Ryan Creek Sewer Project clogged by County Parks Commission

During a hearing this morning the Milwaukee County Parks Commission voted 4-3 to send the City of Franklin’s proposed easement request for the Ryan Creek Interceptor (RCI) Project to the Milwaukee Corporation Council to ensure that the plan submitted by Franklin officials complies with county guidelines and all applicable county legal requirements.

County Supervisor John Weishan, Jr., 16th District, spoke in strong opposition to this controversial $41 million taxpayer funded project which has met with very little support from residents and land owners in the project’s defined area and suggested that MMSD ought to revaluate its priorities in light of ongoing sewer back ups in homes  in several  suburbs throughout Milwaukee County, and flooding problems like those affecting Franklin not long ago.

A presentation by Mayor Tom Taylor and City Engineer Jack Bennett, failed to persuade a majority of commissioners to approve the City’s plan which would have put the matter before the full Milwaukee County Board for consideration.  At one point in his presentation Mayor Taylor went so far as to suggest that this project and other future office developments in this area could be enough to entice Kohl's Corp. to relocate its new headquarters in Franklin.

Former Franklin Alderman and editor and publisher of THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, Basil Ryan, also addressed commissioners voicing his opposition to RCI and challenging the Mayor’s unsubstantiated revenue figures provided the RCI were built as proposed.  Ryan also questioned whether outdated, 12-year old reports like the Ticknor and the Franklin First had any validity in today’s decision making process especially with regard to economic development.

Supervisor Marina Dimitrijevic, 4th District made the motion to send the matter to the Corporation (Milwaukee County attourneys) Council for its legal opinion.  Supervisors Jason Haas, 14th District and  Nikiya Harris, 2nd District voted with Dimitrijevic with Chair, Gerry Broderick, 3rd District, breaking the 3-3 tie.  Supervisors Cesarz, Sanfelippo and Jursik all voted no.

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