Abele vetoes Ryan Creek Interceptor Advisory Referendum

The Business Journal reported yesterday that Milwaukee County executive Chris Abele has vetoed a Milwaukee County Board resolution calling for an advisory referendum on a Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District plan to [re]pay the city of Franklin for costs related to building a sewer interceptor on the city’s southwest side.

The county board on Sept. 29 approved holding the referendum, which is nonbinding; Abele announced his veto on Monday. The project would extend an MMSD regional sewerage line at South 60th Street and Ryan Road to the Milwaukee County line at South 124th Street abutting Muskego in Waukesha County.

 Abele said the Ryan Creek interceptor project has the support of city officials in Franklin and Muskego as well as the MMSD, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Southeast Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. He said the project will help open parts of Milwaukee County and the region to new development and expand employment and the tax base.

Earlier this month in an exclusive story, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL questioned whether Mayor Tom Taylor was cooking a back room Deal with County Executive Chris Abele over the Franklin tax payer-funded, $41 million Ryan Creek Interceptor Project? Our story also included a six-page letter from Mayor Taylor to the county executive asking Able to veto a September 29, 2011, action by the County Board adopting a Resolution for an advisory referendum on the plan by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to repay approximately $41.1 million to the City of Franklin for the costs related to building the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project.

 On Monday morning, October 24, as a Franklin tax payer, I sent the following email to County Executive Abele:

Dear County Executive Chris Abel:

I am a twenty-year resident and home owner in the City of Franklin.  The purpose of my email is to ask you to deny the October 5, 2011 request by City of Franklin Mayor Thomas M. Taylor to veto the County Board’s September 29, 2011 action adopting a Resolution providing for an advisory referendum on the plan by MMSD to pay more than $41 million to the City of Franklin for the costs related to the construction of the Ryan Creek Interceptor project.

Mayor Taylor has claimed on several occasions and in a September 26, 2010, JSOnline story that this project will “[Open] much of the land to a building boom [and] would add more than $1.2 billion to the city's property tax base by 2025.”

We have made two open records requests to Mayor Taylor asking him for documentation proving his claims; to-date he has not been forthcoming with any such documentation.  My latest request dated October 13, 2011, to-date has gone unanswered and makes me highly suspect of the mayor’s claims, which appears to be the primary reason he and certain Franklin Alderman favor this project.

I am asking you to deny Mayor Taylor’s request for your veto and to allow the referendum go forward.

Thank you for your consideration of my request.

Sincerely,

Fred V. Keller

Franklin tax payers should ask themselves and the honorable Mayor Tom Taylor why he does not want the people of Franklin to vote on this $41 million sewer project, which will be funded up-front by Franklin Tax payers?

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EXCLUSIVE: Mayor Asks County Executive to Veto Referendum on RCI Project

Is Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor Cooking a Back room Deal with County Executive Chris Abele over the $41 million Ryan Creek Interceptor Project?

County Executive Chris AbeleIn a six-page letter filled with half-truths and unsubstantiated tax revenue figures dated October 5, 2011 (See below), to Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele, Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor asked the county executive to veto a September 29, 2011, action by the County Board adopting a Resolution for an advisory referendum on the plan by Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to pay approximately $41.1 million to the City of Franklin for the costs related to building the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project (RCI).

In a JSOnline story a little over a year ago Taylor was praising the project proclaiming “Development would follow the pipes.”

The story confirmed that the City was seeking, and has since received a nearly $31 million in low-interest Clean Water Fund loans through the state of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in order to build a large sewer across franklin’s “frontier,” a nine square mile corner of the state's most populous county where only a few scattered homes are visible within a mosaic of farm fields, fence lines, marshes and woods, without sewers and without neighborhoods.

Mayor Taylor forecast with confidence that building the overdue RCI would “[Open] much of the land to a building boom [that] would add more than $1.2 billion to the city's property tax base by 2025,” adding that the added businesses would take some of the local tax burden off the shoulders of homeowners  in Franklin.

This latest turn of events connected with this highly controversial project leaves us, and more than likely many of our readers, perplexed, confused and frankly, suspicious of Mayor Tom Taylor’s true motives for applying for a $31 million in low-interest Clean Water Fund loans with WDNR, and the subsequent sale of the RCI to MMSD for $41.1 million beginning in 2015.  MMSD would take ownership of the RCI in 2031, after paying an estimated total of $41.1 million in principal and interest. The motives of those Franklin Alderman who voted in favor of seeking $31 million in low-interest Clean Water Fund loans from WDNR, should also be questioned. 

Why the about face by the mayor, now? 

 We, like many of our fellow Franklin tax payers were under the impression that, based upon Mayor Taylor’s own words, “Development [would] follow the pipes, and that the project would [open] much of the land to a building boom [that] would add more than $1.2 billion to the city's property tax base by 2025.”

What would the County Executive’s veto accomplish?  It would prevent a county-wide referendum vote on the RCI project; essentially silencing county, and more importantly, Franklin voters on the RCI project.  Apparently, Mayor Taylor knows what’s best for us—"the unwashed masses."

Mayor Tom Taylor can be reached by phone at 414-427-7529 or Email at tom2563@att.net

Mayor Ltr to CoExec 10-05-11

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RELATED MEDIA

• Milwaukee County and Franklin Lock Horns over Ryan Creek Sewer Project
• MMSD Public Hearing Notice Regarding New Boundries for the City of Franklin
• County supervisor seeks referendum on Franklin, Muskego sewer work
• Abele vetoes Ryan Creek interceptor referendum

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Who's Monitoring the Quarry?

City Admits Quarry Operations Went Unmonitored for Past Six Years

Franklin citizens upset with the Payne & Dolan quarry enhancement/expansion called for a neighborhood meeting.   In attendance representing the City of Franklin was Mark Luberda, Director of Administration. Luberda who admitted to those in attendance that it appeared Franklin has been lax about monitoring quarry issues.

Franklin residents met to discuss the limestone quarries operations and why the quarries were not being monitored. Luberda said the contract that Franklin had in place to monitor the quarry lapsed in 2005 and the City never took up the issue again. When one of the Franklin residents in attendance asked him why, Luberda answered, “Maybe there were no complaints.” Another Franklin resident pointed out that perhaps there were no complaints because the quarries were not being monitored. It was the overall consensus of the attendees that the blasting, dust and berms are getting much worse and the whole situation is out of hand. If that is so, why would Franklin allow the quarries to expand without any independent monitoring?

The extraction of limestone at the current location of the quarries began in the 1940's with a change in ownership and property ownership lines between the two quarries over the years. The extraction commenced prior to the City becoming a Wisconsin municipality in 1956.

Over the years, the growth of the Milwaukee Metropolitan area increased the demand for this limestone resource. Growth has placed many new single family homes in the general vicinity surrounding the quarries. Obviously, the expansion of both conflicting land uses has demanded careful consideration of the quarrying operations.

During the early 1990's quarry operators and citizens of Franklin embarked upon a communication process leading to the acceptance of voluntary blasting guidelines, dust control, extracting limits, hours of operation, etc., by the quarry operators. When the quarries approached the City for approval to expand the extraction area boundaries beyond the area allowed by zoning, a long, extensive and exhaustive process took place and eventually lead to the adoption of the Planned Development Districts (PDD) No.23, and the listing of criteria as standards.

For several years, even before the adoption of the PDDs, the City of Franklin Fire Department was  the agency responsible for collecting blasting data and receiving and following through on complaints of quarry operations from citizens. Periodically, a seismograph, in the possession of the Fire Department, was utilized to verify blasting information. The collected data of blast results and tabulation of complaints was to be reported on a monthly basis to the City of Franklin Common Council. The Franklin Fire Department did not interpret the information for improvements to blasting techniques, nor did they have the expertise to be monitoring the other areas of concern as outlined in PDD 23.

Alderman Ryan stated that the quarry voluntarily imposed on itself restrictive operating guidelines to mitigate any potential negative impacts of the extraction and related quarry operations on the growing residential area in the vicinity of the quarry. The quarry also agreed to pay to have those activities monitored. Alderman Ryan stated it made more sense to hire trained and qualified independent experts to monitor the quarry rather than the Franklin Fire Department, especially since Franklin taxpayers were not paying for this. Alderman Ryan questioned why this was not done in 1997. Now Franklin residents are questioning why this stopped in 2005.

It’s noteworthy to point out here that on October 16, 2001, then-Alderman Basil Ryan moved to adopt Resolution No. 2001-5285. It was a resolution that he worked on approving a contract with Aquifer Science & Technology for providing quarry monitoring service which included blasting, dust control, hours of operation, noise, etc. This was after a long process which involved the environmental commission, planning commission, and 16 other companies. This was at no expense to Franklin taxpayers because there was a provision in the 1997 PPD agreement stating:

The operator shall be responsible to the City for all reasonable actual costs incurred by the City in the monitoring of Operator's operations hereunder and in the administration of this Ordinance...

According to a City official we spoke with, here are the annual contracted costs for Aquifer Science Technology’s services:

• 2001 Not to exceed $23,500
• 2002 Not to exceed $32,500
• 2003: Not to exceed $33,500
• 2004: Not to exceed $34,500
• 2005: Entered into month-to-month Agreement. Payments as follows:
• JAN—MAR: not to exceed $9,250/for the quarter.
• APR—JUN: Not to exceed $3083/Month and maximum for the quarter not to exceed $9,250
• Contract lapsed

We remind readers again, that these costs were the full responsibility of Payne & Dolan and NOT Franklin taxpayers.  So, again, why was this contract allowed to lapse by the Mayor, the Administration and the Common Council?

It’s fair for Franklin citizens to ask: Has Mayor Tom Taylor met his legal obligations on this serious public safety matter with Payne & Dolan quarry, or is he complicit in allowing Payne & Dolan to ignore City ordinances since 2011 expansion project?

Mark Luberda also told those in attendance Thursday night that (paraphrasing, again) the Mayor is including funding in next year’s budget for the hiring of an independent company to monitor quarry operations.”  This statement is idiotic and disingenuous at best; since this is cost is merely a pass-through expense from the City to Payne & Dolan.  The City of Franklin and its tax payer have no responsibility to pay for this service.  Why is the mayor so attentive to this matter now?  Is it because he got caught?  This kind of nonsense begs the question: What else is this mayor and Common Council hiding from the People of Franklin?

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Will the Real Fiscal Conservative Please Stand Up!

City of Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor, a self-proclaimed Republican is at odds with Democrat County Supervisor Chris Abele, over of all things—spending cuts!  Three Million dollars to be exact.   County Executive Abele's budget cuts $3 million from the paramedic subsidy to municipalities.

According to Franklin Fire Chief James Martins’ 2009 Annual Report:

... since the new Emergency Medical Services contract with Milwaukee County in 2006, [the City of Franklin has] increased revenue for ambulance services to the City of Franklin dramatically.

Does this explain why our BIG TAX and SPENDING mayor wants Milwaukee County to put up a $6 million paramedic subsidy?

Haven’t We Seen This Movie Before?

Mayor Taylor has enlisted the help of his good ol’ boys network; the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council of Milwaukee County (ICC), a group of Mayors and Village Presidents that represent the 19 municipalities within Milwaukee County and is chaired by Taylor.  The ICC has faced criticism from a number of County Supervisors, especially District 16 Supervisor John F. Weishan, Jr., who said in a March 4, 2010 press release in response  to ICC comments on a County government study,

“The ICC comments divert attention from the true issues facing Milwaukee County: increasing health care costs, stagnant state funding and the failures of County Executive Walker to fulfill his duties as the County’s administrator.”

Of all politicians on the ICC, Mayor Taylor should know that even the $3 million subsidy historically has been challenged.  We remind “His Honor” that a portion of the County’s tax revenue comes from Franklin tax payers.  Isn’t the mayor essentially asking County Executive Abele to raise taxes on ICC-member cities including Franklin tax payers to come up with the addition $3 million?

Taylor and Abele approach the cuts from rather different views.

Taylor believes "We need to be proactive, which is much better than reacting to the budget after it is presented. The difficulty is that there are contracts in place between municipalities who are providing services to other municipalities.”  A rather odd statement, when one considers Taylor’s own lack of proactive success when it comes to economic growth in his own city and his well-known bullying, reactive style of governance.

On the other hand Abele is looking at the big picture and views the paramedic subsidy cut as part of a plan to fill a projected shortfall of $55million.  "I'm committed to introducing a budget without a deficit or levy increase, I'm looking for ways to save Milwaukee County taxpayers money, including by reviewing discretionary spending and encouraging consolidation."

So will the real fiscal conservative please stand up—not so fast Mr. Mayor!

Contributing material to this story: No quick rescue for paramedics funding (FranklinNOW)

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City’s Elected Officials and Payne & Dolan’s Dirty Little Secret

IMPORTANT MEETING TONIGHT

Have the City’s elected officials put politics ahead of public safety or have they been asleep at the wheel when it comes to monitoring the mining operations at Payne & Dolan's Quarry and  the the air quality coming out of that quarry?

A Franklin citizen’s group has asked former Alderman and editor and publisher of THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL, Basil Ryan to moderate its meeting this evening (Thursday, September 28, 2011) at 7:00PM to discuss and explain how Franklin’s elected officials and City staff have put Franklin citizens at risk of contracting Silicosis due to years of lax and legally required oversight of the Payne & Dolan Quarry.

Quarry Meeting Flyer

According to OSHAs website, Silicosis is caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust. Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil, sand, granite, and most other types of rock, and it is used as an abrasive blasting agent. Silicosis is a progressive, disabling, and often fatal lung disease. Cigarette smoking adds to the lung damage caused by silica. Silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen.  Silicosis makes an individual more susceptible to Teburculocis (TB), Scleroderma – a disease affecting skin, blood vessels, joints and skeletal muscles, as well as possible kidney disease.  OSHA also points to the following sources of exposure for Silicosis. 

• Sandblasting for surface preparation
• Crushing and drilling rock and concrete
• Masonry and concrete work (e.g. building and road construction and repair).
• Mining/tunneling; demolitions work.
• Cement and asphalt pavement manufacturing

If it were not for Payne & Dolan’s expansion ("enhancements" as City officials explained) of its quarry operation along South 51st Street, essentially between Rawson and Drexel Avenues, more than a decade old oversight failure by City officials may have never been discovered.

Ffollows are questions submitted to City staff during an August 24, 2011, Neighborhood Meeting pertaining to the Payne & Dolan Berm “enhancement” Project.  Answers are organized by topic, and were provided by the City of Franklin Planning Department.  We received these answers by email on Friday, September 16, 2011.

Questions & Answers to Quarry Questions (9-16-11)

The question now is: Who in City government should be held accountable for this serious failure to protect the citizens of Franklin from this potential cancer-causing agent produced potentially being produced ad released from the quarry operation?  In the private sector it would fall squarely on the shoulders of the Chief Executive Officer.

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MMSD Public Hearing Regarding New District Boundary for the City of Franklin

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) has given notice that it will hold a public hearing tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27, 2001 [2011], at 10:00AM at the District’s headquarters building located at 260 W. Seebooth Street, Milwaukee.  Oddly, at this writing this notice cannot be found on The City of Franklin’s website.  We did however; find the following notices on the website’s front page (Priorities?):

• Annual Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Charities
• Emergency Services Chili Cook-Off

While both are great events, Tuesday’s MMSD Hearing is to gather public comment on MMSD’s biennial review to consider whether and how much of the City of Franklin should be included into District’s taxing boundary on account of the Ryan Creek Interceptor. It appears that that the City of Franklin permitted MMSD to include the whole City of Franklin in its taxing boundary.  Weren’t taxpayers told repeatedly by Mayor Taylor and Alderman Taylor and other City officials that the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project wouldn’t be a tax burden on Franklin taxpayers?  This latest collusion between the City and MMSD could result in Franklin residents with their own septic systems having to pay annual taxes to MMSD for service they may not want or need.

It appears that Galileo was correct: "All truths are easy to understand once they are disdovered."

MMSD Public Hearing Notice regarding Franklin Boundaries 092711

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Update on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 10:34 AM by Basil Ryan

ERROR IN MMSD HEARING PUBLIC NOTICE DATE

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL has contacted MMSD this morning to notify the body of an error in its posting of the aforementioned public hearing notice concerning the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project.  Here is the main text of our email:

The public hearing notice that appears on your website (Notice of Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for public hearing regarding the district boundary for the City of Franklin) has the incorrect year listed.

It says, “... will hold a public hearing to gather public comment on the District's biennial review of its boundary on September 27, 2001.” Therefore, since THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL is bringing this error to your attention, our question is, will MMSD postpone the meeting and re-notice the meeting with the correct date?

If you are waiting for someone to file a written complaint, consider this a written complaint. THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL feels your notice is incorrect and confusing to the general public and should have the correct date. Otherwise it leads the reader to believe that you'll be discussing a topic that took place in 2001. FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL had numerous inquiries about the article we posted on our newspaper. We linked your public notice to our article and readers were confused about what we were trying to say and what your notice articulated. Your incorrect date has confused our readers. Please consider this objection for the reasons stated above. Please contact us if we can be of any further assistance or help.

Editors, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

We received the following response from MMSD this morning:

Dear Editor,

Thank you for catching that typo on our web site.

We did post a nearly full page public notice in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that correctly listed the proper hearing date and time. We do plan to hold the meeting this morning as noticed in the paper.

Bill Graffin

MMSD Public Information Manager

(414) 225-2077

Majority of Franklin’s Elected Representaives Ignore Survey

On Monday, September 29, we emailed a two question survey to all elected officials in Franklin government, including the Franklin School Board, asking each where their primary academic background lies and asked for their cooperation in participating in our survey.  The story generated the following comment from one of our readers:

"Unfortunately, you can have all the degrees available to you.   But, unfortunately there are no classes taught in 'common sense'.”

Amen to that!

To-date we have not received responses from the following school board members: President Debbie Larson, vice president, Jeff Traylor, Linda Witkowski.  That represents 's three out of seven elected representatives.  It certainly seems reasonable to conclude that the aforementioned school board member HAVE NOT read or choose to ignore the District’s Communications Plan.  From City Hall, only District 1 Alderman Steve Olson and District 3 Alderwoman Kristen Wilhelm have responded.  That's two out of seven elected aldermen and Mayor Taylor that ignored the survey.  In alphabetical order, here are the responses we received.  When included by the respondent, additional comments are included in this story.

 JUDITH BIALK, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: My primary educational background is in education.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: My first college degree was earned at Alverno College in 1964.  It was a Bachelor of Science in Education with my primary focus on elementary education.  I also hold two minors, one in Speech, the other in English.  I earned licensure and certification as a Reading Clinician and Diagnostician from the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, and I hold a Master of Art degree in Pastoral Studies from St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee.

JANET EVANS, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: History

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: None.

Additional comments: I’m sure you wouldn't find a large percentage of local public officials in smaller cities such as Franklin who had political careers in mind when they made their educational choices. Also, very often citizens are reluctant to step up as candidates for School Board.

That said, generally, in public schools the Business Manager has most of the control over the budget process, with the help of other administrators including the superintendent, directors and principals. The final budget comes to the school board for approval. Note I said “generally,” as I believe there are key stakeholders being left out of the process.  Some school districts that have figured this out and are using other budget processes.

Too often I have heard it stated at our Board meetings, regarding the administration, “They’re the experts” when it comes to issues from building and grounds to budget. But the majority of the administration has backgrounds in education.

As far as the article you reference, as a citizen of the U.S, while I would prefer the congressional "supercommittee" on finding deficit reduction have backgrounds in economics, I prefer our congress be representatives of our people as a whole, and therefore, have diverse backgrounds.

Lastly, if the public is unhappy about the educational paths of elected officials are we going to blame them or ourselves? I'm sure there have been plenty of politicians without business backgrounds who have been elected because they are better public speakers.

MELISSA KLIEN, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: Engineering and business administration.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: Growing up in central Illinois, I attended elementary and high school in a very small county-wide public school district. Shortly after earning an engineering degree from the University of Illinois in 1990, I moved to Wisconsin. In 2001 I completed a master's of business administration degree from UW-Milwaukee.

TIM NIELSON, Franklin School Board.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: Business/Finance.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: Accounting.

Alderman STEVE OLSON, Alderman, Franklin District 1.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: My major area of study was broadcast management with a declared minor in Business Administration. 

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in Speech Communications.

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University in Speech Communications.  My major area of study was broadcast management with a declared minor in Business Administration.

Additional Comments:I am a thesis short of a masters degree in communications from Marquette but not pursuing it.  I have additional schooling from the American Management Association, MSOE and 35 years [of] experience in business management as an employed manager.  Also, see City website.

KRISTEN WILHELM, Alder woman, Franklin District 3.

Question: What do you consider to be your primary academic background?

Answer: my primary academic background in Organizational Management and Development.

Question:  If you hold a college degree, what was your major?

Answer: I hold an Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree, with a major in Electronics Technology and a Professional Certificate in non-profit management.

Additional Comments:  Your question should also address work experience. Academic background helps with an application but work experience provides knowledge. A rounded background is needed for aldermanic duties.  8-years as a volunteer in the city; ordinance and plat review, and more than 3 years on the Finance Committee as an example of some of my hands-on experience. Let us not forget Robert's Rules (Thanks to Dad and the USAF, I can also do my own brakes ; )

Thanks to those elected representatives who took the time to respond to our survey.

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City's Short-sighted thinking on Display, Again

This article is a follow-up to our August 11, 2011, editorial;  Achieving the Height of Incompetence: A not so hypothetical Case

Below are drawings of roadway cross-sections of the latest South 76^th Street reconstruction drawing (60% complete) and an older drawing (30% complete) which the latest proposed drawing replaces.

Here are some of the contentious issues related to the latest project drawing.

Below are drawings of roadway cross-sections of the latest South 76^th Street reconstruction drawing (60% complete) and an older drawing (30% complete) which the latest proposed drawing replaces.

Here are some of the contentious issues and question related to the latest project drawing.

1. How this “major roadway” in the latest drawing going to feed more than $1.2 billion in development in the southwest side of Franklin as Mayor Taylor proclaimed in JSOnline article Franklin: The final frontier created due to the controversial Ryan Creek Interceptor?
2. This roadway will be more unsafe than the previous design.  This is no longer a rural country road or subdivision street, this is going to become a major artery.
3. Next year, or soon after, the remainder if Highway 100 is going to be widened from the Root River to Hales Corners - Why doesn't this improvement extend through the intersection of 76th Street and Ryan Road?
4. For easier reading click the full screen button.

South 76th Street 30 Percent Cross-section Drawing

South 76th Street 60 Percent Cross-section Drawing

Please contact Mayor Tom Taylor or your Alderman with anyquestions you may have concerning this project.

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EDITORIAL: Mayor Taylor to the Rescue?

After reading Franklin mayor promotes redistricting fight in the FranklinNOW, we cannot understand Mayor Taylor’s interest in picking a fight with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, over its vote on a plan to reduce the board by one seat, from 19 to 18, or why it matters to "his honor" that in drawing the map for the new districts, the North Shore's 6th District was eliminated. The Board’s plan cuts Whitefish Bay in half and leaves Supervisor Joe Rice without a job.

We hardly heard a peep out of the mayor when the Harley Davidson Distribution Center in the Franklin Business Park pulled up stakes in Franklin, eliminating 150 jobs and leaving another tenantless building in the business park.    Mayor Taylor needs to  reset his priorities and get to work for the taxpayers in the City of Franklin.  There is plenty for Mayor Taylor to do here, without getting himself involved with issues involving North Shore suburbs.

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EDITORIAL: Achieving the Height of Incompetence: A not so hypothetical Case

Let’s say, hypothetically, you are the mayor of a city of 35,451 with pathetically little to no economic growth, a city where more businesses are leaving than setting up shop, and yet despite all of this, in the midst of a deep recession, you decide to gamble more than $31 million of taxpayer dollars for a sewer project to create a so-called “building boom” that would add an unsubstantiated $1.2 billion to the city's property tax base by 2025.  Here is how this “hypothetical case” might play-out in the newspaper.

But as mayor, you want this controversial project completed by 2014, 11-years early (coincidently, a mayoral election year).

If you were mayor of this hypothetical city wouldn’t you work closely with County and State officials to reconstruct South 76th Street to ensure a potential main artery into your “$1.2 billion” revenue project had an adequate roadway?

We will have more coverage on the hypothetical roadway issue in the days ahead.

Follows is a letter pertaining to the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project from my Alderman, Kristen Wilhelm (District 3) sent to her constituents this month, Kristen Wilhelm (District 3) sent to her constituents this month.

AUG 2011 Alderman Wilhelm Letter to constituents

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Ryan Creek Sewer Project Stinks to High Heaven

The City of Franklin: Where Honest and Transparent Government Goes to Die. What you don't know can hurt you

According to the NewBerlinNOW, it is highly likely that the New Berlin, like Muskego, is looking to take advantage of Franklin tax payers thanks in-part to Mayor Tom Taylor’s highly controversial $31 million Ryan Creek sewer(Interceptor) project. Much like Mayor Taylor’s plan, New Berlin seeks to extend a sewer so that an area with the biggest chunk of remaining farmland in eastern New Berlin could be opened up for development. The plan is expected to win Common Council (New Berlin) approval Tuesday night. The Agenda for Franklin’s Common Council Meeting, also on Tuesday, August 2, makes no mention of the actions taking place in New Berlin. Will New Berlin and Muskego reimburse Franklin for the expenses the City has incurred to-date for this project? Read more.

Some observers see New Berlin’s controversial move as “back door” preparations to buy Lake Michigan water in a few years by side-stepping the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewer District (MMSD), aided and abetted by Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor and his staunch supporters on the Franklin Common Council; Aldermen Steve Taylor, Timothy Solomon and Ken Skowronski.

Unanswered Questions

Is New Berlin, a suburb of Waukesha County planning to connect to Franklin’s Ryan Creek Interceptor with its project? Since this is technically a MMSD project, will New Berlin residents pay a portion of their property tax to MMSD, like Franklin taxpayers and other MMSD customers throughout Milwaukee County, or are taxpayers in various Milwaukee County cities footing the bill for New Berlin to receive Great Lakes water?

To voice your support or opposition to the New Berlin project or the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project, or for answers to these or any other questions related to either project, we suggest you contact Mayor Tom Taylor or your Alderman.

RELATED STORIES

• Click to read previous FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL stories pertaining to the Ryan Creek Sewer Project.
• Click to read previous stories pertaining to the Ryan Creek Sewer Project posted on our sister publication BATTLE JOINED.

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“There is absolutely no expansion of the quarry with the approval of this project”

Despite company claims that there is absolutely no expansion of the quarry with the approval of this project, it would require a willing suspension of disbelief for any reasonable person to accept this as fact.

In a recent article we suggested that Mayor Tom Taylor and his “boys,” Aldermen Solomon, Taylor and Skowronski, were  conducting “business as usual “ by quietly permitting the quarry; more specifically, Payne & Dolan, Inc. to prepare for an expansion of the east side of its quarry on 51^st Street.  Since our firts report, the "berm enhancement" appears to be progressively edging closer to 51st Street.

Here  is the so-called “Neighbor Letter” and an aerial view of the quarry, highlighting the project’s location we received from Cliff Weninger, Area Manager, Payne & Dolan, Inc.  Read it carefully with a syndical eye.  There must be a mammoth number of noise complaints from neighbors in the immediate area of the quarry for Payne Dolan to go through this, what appears to be great expense to buffer its operations noise from its neighbors.  Neighbor Letter From Payne Dolan, Inc.

Quarry Aerial Photo

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Milwaukee County and Franklin Lock Horns over Ryan Creek Sewer Project

In a JSOnline article published last Friday, referring to Mayor Tom Taylor’s Ryan Creek Sewer Project, Milwaukee County Board Supervisor John Weisan said “Rather than spending millions of dollars beginning in 2015 to pay for a proposed sewer serving rural southwest Franklin, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)  should invest the funds in flood control efforts throughout the metropolitan area...."  Coincidently flash flooding effected many parts of Milwaukee exactly one year ago to the day, last Friday (July 22).

Weishan will introduce a resolution opposing both the sewer plan and Franklin's use of eminent domain to acquire land for the sewer project from any owners unwilling to sell their property. The resolution will be discussed today at a meeting of the County Board's Intergovernmental Relations Committee.  THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL is covering today’s meeting.

Supervisor Weishan provided us with the following letter this morning.

Weishan Franklin Interceptor Letter

We also recently received the following comments from a reader.

Who should be assisting and standing up for the American taxpayers and closely analyze this project for impacts that outweigh the fictitious benefits?

Governor Walker – His promise to cut wasteful spending is missing this target. Taking people’s land by Eminent Domain for costly and un-necessary projects does not put the people and families of Wisconsin first.

Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor - This project is contrary to today’s economic situation and the spending cuts promised by our Governor (who he supported). The project works against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s purpose and programs including The Farm Land Preservation Act, The Wisconsin Working Lands Initiative and the Food Security Act. The impact on local farmland compromises any future opportunity to support U.S. farmers by buying American, locally-grown food. By putting other lands at risk for severance and development it is also contrary to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. As part of this project, Franklin officials have graciously agreed to include and pay for sewer lines that will extend into Muskego, serving Waukesha County.

Mayor Taylor is blatantly promoting the project as economic development. This is NOT the purpose of the Federal Clean Water Fund Loan Program, which is the source of the money requested for this project. This $40 Million of taxpayers’ money is going for unneeded infrastructure. Mayor Taylor is also working against his own community by increasing associated spending to keep the project alive for the benefit of his supporters, while spouting typical rhetoric that speculative development will ultimately lower taxes.

The Army Corp of Engineers – A project this scale ($40M) is significant and the scale too large to slide under the non-public input of the general permit process.

WI Department of Natural Resources – Same - Public Notice the permits for this project and justify its need and ranking. How does their internal documentation under NR150 support their decision on this grant?

The U.S. EPA- Federal Funds administered to the State should have an obligation to the taxpayers to cut spending by oversight of funding abuse.

Southeastern WI Regional Planning Commission – SEWRPC stands on the sidelines by virtue of ultimate population forecasts in their long-range planning document. The projected population served by this sewer is 20,000, where only 440 live today. It will take decades to reach the forecast population level.

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District – MMSD has the responsibility to protect our drinking water by not adding additional burdens to the system, fixing current problems, and help keep sewerage tax rates under control. Promotion of speculative development is not part of the MMSD mission.

Coalition for Property Rights – The CPR monitors government abuse of Eminent Domain, working to protect the American Dream and Affordable Homeownership.

Wisconsin Historical Society – Historic properties are in the path of this 5-mile pipeline project. How will they be protected or avoided under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act- Protection of Historic Properties?

Great Lakes Protection Organizations – While water groups are being distracted on Lake Michigan water diversions and return paths through Underwood Creek, they may be missing the larger pipe being pushed right past their noses. Another aspect is the need to address water quality issues and question how increasing sewerage flows will solve these needs.

Mark

Living the economic hardship caused by unjustified government spending.

RELATED MEDIA

•  July2010 Flooding in the Milwaukee area (Multo-media photos)

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Is the Quarry Expanding? Well...yes and no

Franklin residents have seen this movie before.

It was inevitable.  First, tear down the homes and buildings on the west side of 51st Street.  Let any rumors and scuttlebutt (e.g. quarry expansion), as to why these buildings were demolished abate.  Then, when all has quieted down, move in the bulldozers and earth-movers and hope no one notices or bothers to speak out until it’s too late.  That’s how Mayor Tom Taylor and his “boys” (Aldermen Solomon, Taylor and Skowronski) on the Franklin Common Council like to work.  Is that this group’s idea of open government.

Driving south on 51st Street yesterday, between Rawson and Drexel, I noticed a bulldozer and a couple other pieces of earth-moving equipment operating on the east side of the quarry’s burm.  Today I checked with my alderman and sure enough the quarry is being expanded as part of a years-old agreement with the City. Franklin pols will tell you “'Technically,' it’s not being 'expanded.'” Evidently this is due to the language in the agreement.

The berms to the east are being moved further east so that mining can take place beneath where the berms once stood.

Please direct any questions regarding this matter to the mayor, your alderman or Joel Dietl, AICP, Planning Manager, City of Franklin at 414-425-4024.

Contradictory Loan Amounts surface over Mayor's Ryan Creek Sewer Project

In a September 26, 2010, article entitled Franklin: The final frontier, Don Behm of the Journal Sentinel wrote:

…Milwaukee County's last frontier finally would be served in the next few years as part of an agreement between Franklin and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District[MMSD]. On Monday, MMSD's commission will be asked to approve extending sewer service to the far corners of the city.

Development would follow the pipes, Mayor Tom Taylor said.

The city is seeking nearly $31 million in low-interest Clean Water Fund loans through the state Department of Natural Resources so that it can build a large sewer across the frontier...

On January 10, 2011, our sister publication, BATTLE JOINED wrote an opinion piece entitled:  Questions surround Ryan Creek Interceptor Project and in April THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL published an editorial entitled: Is it too good to be true?, which also questioned the prospect of the RCI Project.

Today we learned from City Hall sources that, yesterday, Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor received a letter of approval for not a $31 million loan for this project, but a $38 million loan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

Maureen Huebeler, Financial Assistance Specialist, Environmental Loans Section confirmed the loan approval and amount to THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL in a telephone conversation this morning.

In covering the contentious skirmishes over Mayor Taylor’s blitzkrieg to ram this project through the common council and a number of government bodies including Milwaukee County—at the expense of Franklin taxpayers, we sent Mayor Taylor the following email on Friday, May 20 and to-date have received no acknowledgment of our email or answers to our questions posed in it:

Mr. Mayor:

Referring to the Ryan Creek Interceptor Project, this article on JSOnline reported in-part, the following:
 
...Franklin Mayor Tom Taylor said the sewer line would lead to property tax relief by adding homes and businesses to the tax rolls. Strict limits on property tax increases included in Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal would allow increases based only on the value of new construction or approval by referendum. New development in Franklin would lead to more tax revenue for the county, Taylor said.
 
"You'll get 19% of every new tax dollar that's generated," he told supervisors of the county's share of the revenue that will be generated.
 
He said the sewer line would also open the county-owned property surrounding the County Correctional Facility-South to development. [County Supervisor] Weishan scoffed at that notion, because of the proximity to the lockup. But Taylor said county officials have mulled the idea of moving the correctional facility and eventually selling the land for development.
 
In fairness to you is the reporter's story of the meeting accurate and has he accurately reported your comments?
 
Thank you.

Fred V. Keller, Co-Editor & Publisher
THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL

 * * * * 

 Maureen Huebeler in the DNR Environmental Loans Section confirmed to us that the loan application she processed and approved was for $38 million and was submitted on June 1.  If truth has no agenda.  What is the mayor’s agenda when it comes to this project?

Ms. Huebeler also confirmed that the City will make a [taxpayer funded] interest only payment in March 2012 and an interest and principle payment, [also taxpayer funded], in May 2012 along with another interest only payment in May 2012.  At this time, Ms. Huebeler was unable to provide us with the amounts of these payments.

If, as reported, MMSD would begin buying the sewer from Franklin in 2015, under terms of a proposed intergovernmental cooperation agreement. The district would take ownership of the interceptor in 2031, after paying an estimated total of $41.1 million in principal and interest.  How does the new $38 million price tag affect this intergovernmental cooperation agreement?

Will $38 million in "value of new construction" allow the mayor to increase prpoerty taxes without going to a referendum?

Finally, will Franklin taxpayers ever truly know the complete, final cost of this project or its true return on investment?  I would expect our elected city officials would have all the answers to these questions.

Throughout our coverage on the mayor’s project it has become obvious to us that The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL and the 35,000 residents of the City of Franklin have been mislead by from the start by Mayor Taylor and the Common Council about the cost of the Ryan creek Interceptor Project.  The mayor’s silence and refusal to respond to our questions only serves to widen the credibility gap between the mayor and the people of Franklin.

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Update on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 11:18 AM by Basil Ryan

 Today we received the following cost breakdown for the controversial $38 million Ryan Creek Sewer Project  from a City Hall source:

Loan application amount:  $38,322,000
 
Includes $250,000 for Franklin's local cost for stub sewers; $29,125,000 in
estimated construction costs, the balance is design, G&A, staff and
professionals, easements, contingency, etc.

Contact the mayor or your alderman with any questions or comments you may have on this issue.

Will Mayor Tom Taylor and the Common Council Oppose SB 83?

Based upon documents included in aldermen's “meeting packets, especially a prepared Resolution entitled: A Resolution Opposing the Adoption Senate Bill 83 [SB83] Relating to Various Changes to the Eminent Domain Laws, its obvious that the mayor and the common council were prepared to oppose it at the June 21, Common Council Meeting.

Mayor Tom Taylor, Aldermen Solomon, Taylor and Skowronski appeared panicked at the prospect that SB 83, introduced by State Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), if passed, would take an “economic development tool” away from the City, especially as it relates to Tax increment financing (TIF), an intoxicating government tool that allows municipalities to promote economic development by earmarking property tax revenue from increases in assessed values within a designated TIF district. Proponents point to evidence that assessed property value within TIF districts generally grows much faster than in the rest of the municipality and infer that TIF benefits the entire municipality.  As you might imagine there are contrary views on the benefits of TIF districts, particularly as it relates to economic growth.

TIF districts are typically used as one of the primary means to raise money for the public investment portion of the costs of economic growth or revitalization designated areas of a municipality.  TIF districts are touted by its supporters as being without cost, or good for the entire city, or the only way to get a project started, these arguments make sense only to those who see only the immediate effects of something and are unwilling — or unable — to see the secondary effects of this harmful form of government intervention. 

Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) has long been the common council’s preferred way to create economic growth.  Alderman Tim Solomon seemed especially over wrought in his exchange with Senator Lazich.

Based upon the mayor Taylor’s and aldermen’s questions, one would have to question whether he and Council members have actually read SB 83 and know where the bill currently stands in the Senate. To listen to the June 21 Common Council Meeting click here.

Franklin citizen Timothy Dake, an organizer for Wisconsin Grandsons of Liberty spoke in support of SB 83 during citizen comments and also wrote an opinion piece entitled Bill reins in eminent domain abuse published June 20 on JSOnline.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Kelo v. New London: Lawsuit Challenging Eminent Domain Abuse in New London, Connecticut

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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.

RELATED STORIES

• Is it too good to be true?
• MMSD considers land purchase in Ryan Creek headwaters
• Sewer project OK'd for undeveloped area of Franklin
• Franklin: The final frontier
• Negotiations begin on sewer to city's future

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Franklin Voters Decide Winners and Losers

By Basil Ryan and Fred Keller 

Franklin Aldermanic District 3

Wilhelm Shaves Schick

Despite some controversy in the final days of the campaign concerning his Financial Statement, specifically his employment status with Waste Management, challenger Bob Schick was soundly defeated by incumbent District 3 Alderman, Kristen Wilhelm.  Here are the preliminary (unofficial) results.

• Kristen Wilhelm: 1066 votes, representing 71.39% of the vote.
• Bob Schick: 423 votes, representing 28.28% of the vote.

Franklin Aldermanic District 4

“Peko” Won’t Be Back— District 4 Voters Reject Kosovich, Again

In what could be described as the slimiest race in this election cycle, the citizens of Franklin’s District 4, again rejected Pete Kosovich; this time in his bid to regain the aldermanic seat he once held in this District.  Kosovich lost this seat in 2008, blaming Basil Ryan for his defeat by just a 10 votes to challenger Steve F. Taylor.  In 2011 however, the results were quite different.  Here are the preliminary (unofficial) results.

• Steve F. Taylor: 1250 total votes representing 62.66% of the vote.
• Pete “Peko” Kosovich: 738 total votes, representing 33.99% of the vote.

FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL  cameras were on-hand for Alderman Taylor's victory speech and thank you to his supporters at Mulligans

Franklin School District

Voters Expel David Works from Franklin School Board

If the election results for Franklin School Board were a report card, David Works would receive a failing grade.   Newcomer Tim Nielson received 3,462 votes, ousting Works, who fell short with 2,845 votes.   Incumbent Linda Witkowski was reelected to her second three-year term with 4,260 votes.

Witkowski and Board member Janet Evans have been proponents of transparency within the district, making well-informed decisions rather than rubber-stamping proposals presented by the administration, and holding the line on spending.  With the fiscal responsibilities impacting school districts in the immediate future, the Franklin School Board needs to do their homework.  In reviewing Nielson’s campaign site, it appears citizens may have elected another School Board member who thinks independently.  Only time will tell. 

Neilson will officially take his seat on the Franklin School Board at their reorganization meeting, Wednesday, April 20, 2011.  Along with Witkowski and Evans, he’ll join Judith Bialk, Melissa Klein, Debbie Larson and Jeff Traylor.

Here are the preliminary (unofficial) results.

• Linda Witkowski (Incumbent): 4260 total votes representing 40.09% of the vote.
• Tim Nielson: 3462 total votes representing 32.58% of the vote.
• David Works (Incumbent): 2845 total votes representing 26.78% of the vote.

Unopposed Races

Franklin Aldermanic District 6

• Ken Skowronski (Unopposed incumbent): 1137 total votes, representing 98.44% of the vote.
• Write-in: 18 total votes, representing 1.56% of the vote.

Mayoral Race

• Tom Taylor (Unopposed, seeking third three-year term): 7757 total votes, representing 97.3% of the vote.
• Write-in: 164 total votes, representing 2.07% of the vote.

Here are additional results of the other races in this general election provided to us by Franklin’s City Clerk, Sandi Wesolowski.

Spring 2011 General Election Preliminary Results

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Franklin's Two Highest Paid City Employees Have "Sweetheart" Deals

By Basil Ryan and Fred Keller

In the past few weeks, public sector employee compensation, especially union employees, has become  a high-profile policy issue in Madison and has cascaded across America. This rippling effect will have ramifications in Franklin, as well.

Before the “Madness in Madison” began over public-sector employee union contracts, we thought we would take a look at Franklin’s two highest-paid employees (non-union) and determine how the mayor and common council were treating them. We were very surprised and we believe you will be, too.

In our open records request, we learned that Mark Luberda, director of administration, had an 2010 Agreement with Franklin for a salary of $108,891.95 plus benefits. Calvin Patterson, director of finance & treasurer has an Employee Agreement with Franklin which provided for a 2010 salary of $106,923.43 plus benefits (Patterson's complete contract can be found at the bottom of this article). Both of these are cabinet officer positions which means they report directly to the mayor.

In this article we will focus on the salary and benefits of the director of finance & treasurer position and an important upcoming date.

If the mayor or common council does not take action by April 1, 2011, Patterson's contract will renew automatically for another year with its “sweetheart deals” (See Patterson contract, page 1, Section 2, Term of Employment).  After reading this article you may want to contact the mayor and your alderperson to express your concerns.

As our country was entering into the worst recession since 1991, and Franklin was slipping into a $2.5 million budget shortfall, no Resolution, as required in the Employee Agreement (See Patterson's contract. page 2, Section 2, Term of Employment), was submitted to the Franklin Common Council by the April 1 yearly deadline. In 2010 a current alderman was made aware of the impending deadline and was asked to submit a Resolution to the common council, or at least bring it to their attention. He refused, for reasons only known by the alderman. This year, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL is going on record to notify the mayor, common council, and Franklin taxpayers of this important deadline. If no Resolution is submitted, this Employee Agreement will automatically renew for another 12-month term under the same terms and conditions with the exception of increases to salary and benefits. This means his salary and benefits will continue to increase annually.

Patterson has enjoyed an Employee Agreement since 2006 that contains these benefits and incentives:

Patterson's annual base salary with annual 3% salary increases

See Patterson's contract, page 3, Section 4 Performance Evaluation)

• 2006 – $95,000.10
• 2007 – $97,850.10
• 2008 – $100,785.60
• 2009 – $103,809.16
• 2010 – $106.923.43
• 2011 -  $110,131.13

This is an increase of 15% or $15,131.03 since 2006. Since this recession began employees have made salary concessions just to retain their job, while others have received zero or very meager salary increases during these tough economic times. Patterson has received these automatic salary and benefits while the city and Franklin taxpayers continue to face tough economic conditions.

Compensation provided in lieu of retiring

As an incentive to Patterson to continue working between the ages of 62-65, Franklin agreed (See Patterson contract; Section 3, Salary, paragraph 3) to pay him half of the current retiree benefit, while giving him full health and dental insurance during the same period of time. On average, Franklin was paying $21,037.44 to provide insurance to retirees. Patterson received half of that, $10,518.72, or $31,556.16 for those three years while he continues to work and be fully insured by Franklin. You as a taxpayer are footing this bill.  (Note: the $10,518.72 compensation was not added to the annual base salary noted above.)

In our research we found it difficult to compile all of Patterson’s benefit dollar value due to the fact that there is no central source or document for this sort of information contained in it at city hall.  Multiple staff resources were called upon to fulfill our request for Patterson’s benefit information.  

Franklin to pay three years of health insurance after retirement

The city has agreed to provide Patterson with full Employer-paid family retiree health benefit coverage for a period of three years (See contract; Section 5, number 1.)  Total cost to the taxpayer for three years coverage at the city’s current monthly rate of $1,812.50 amounts to $65,250.  It’s significant to note that Patterson is the only city employee that receives this benefit.  At age 65 all other retirees are expected to enroll in Medicare (see city’s Benefits Ordinance).

Vacation

Patterson is entitled to 160 hours of vacation annually (See Patterson contract Section 5, Benefits, number 2.).  According to the city’s Benefits Ordinance, the average non-union employee would need 12 years of service to receive 20 days (160 hours) vacation. Patterson enjoyed this benefit in less than half the time required of other Franklin employees.

Residency

During the term of the Employee Agreement, Patterson will not be required to become a resident of the City of Franklin (See Patterson contract Section 5).

Life Insurance

Patterson will be provided life insurance at least equal to two times the employee’s annualized bi-weekly base salary (See contract Section 5).

Cell phone

Patterson will be provided with a city-paid cell phone for business purposes and minimal personal use (See contract Section 5).

Professional Fees

Franklin will pay all professional fees (See Patterson contract; Section 5 Benefits, number 5.)

Franklin will pay Business–related Travel and Entertainment Expenses (See Patterson contract, Section 5 Benefits, number 6.)

After reviewing the Finance expenditure reports, we noted a pattern. It appears that Patterson absorbs almost all the budget dollars allocated for conferences and schools. For the past three years, this cost Franklin taxpayers was $6,278.97.

Additional open records requests regarding the expenses for conferences and schools are pending. The Franklin Independent Journal has raised additional questions and has asked for clarification pertaining to policies and procedures. Watch for a future story.

Governor Walker and state legislators have insisted that the rationale behind the passage of the new budget laws were needed to put the tools in the hands of local government to overcome the cuts that will be passed down from the state to local government. From what we have learned and shared with our readers about city management employees’ salary and benefits deals outlined here, The Franklin Independent Journal believes it will be difficult for the City of Franklin to win any type of concessions from their union and non-union employees as long as one of the top two city officials enjoys such lucrative compensation package.   Franklin doesn't need any help from the governor and legislature to deal with the Employee Agreement it created with Cal Patterson. They just need to demonstrate common sense and fairness when dealing with all employees and leading by example.    

A follow-up story focusing on Mark Luberda's—the highest paid city employee—Employment Agreement will be published soon.

Patterson Employment Contract (Highlighted)

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