By Righty
When I had a desire to pursue becoming an elected official/school board member, I knew I was in for a rough ride simply because prior to my seat on the Board, I had been a blogger who attended meetings and recorded, critiqued and blogged about the issues to my fellow citizens. I was tough. I knew as a board member I would not be able to please everyone, but in my first year of service I have kept my promise to remember who I work for…the citizens.
I don’t use this blog to write about my school board service. But this weekend is special and I have an urge to write about it. It will probably be like no other during my term…at least I hope not.
Last year I participated in the high school graduation ceremony by being present in formal academic attire in front of the stage as the students marched by. I remembered my own children’s graduation from the same high school in the same place years before. It’s an emotional time for family and friends and it is a proud moment as a school board member.
This year I am fortunate in that Sunday I am going to be one of the board members presenting the diplomas to the graduates. How many citizens get to have such an honor? Several of the students are children of friends of mine. All of the students are special to me. I look forward to the speeches, the smiles, the anxious looks on faces of students and parents as they wonder what will come next in the future …and yes, the tears of joy.
This weekend will also be a new experience for me as a school board member. Tomorrow I will attend a funeral service for a middle school student who would have gone through 8th grade commencement next week. He died in a tragic drowning Memorial Day weekend. I have attended student memorial services in the past. They are always heart wrenching. I have attended them as a student and a friend myself, and as a parent who’s child’s good friend died tragically. This time it’s a student in my District. Saturday there will be tears for the joy that will not be seen – for the future that is lost.
This weekend will be bittersweet. It will not be forgotten by me any time soon. But time will move on and there will be meetings and there will be critiquing. And I will not forget I am working for the citizens.
By Righty
I’ve been noticing a pattern here in my hometown.
I distinctly recall about ten years ago when my son’s car, which was parked in my driveway, was broken into and had miscellaneous items of value stolen between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. one early June morning. One item that was stolen was brand new and he had worked very hard to save the money to purchase it. I know at least one other car in the neighborhood was burglarized that same day.
I haven’t heard of a pattern of incidents like that, or haven’t paid attention to any in my area until recently.
First, what is a Cat Burglar?
from WiseGeek -
Though the technical definition is more inclusive, a cat burglar generally refers to a thief who breaks into homes to steal personal property. Cats are stealthy and quiet, approaching prey without causing alarm, pouncing without warning. A cat burglar is a thief who slips in unnoticed, taking what he wants before the victim knows what’s happened. A cat burglar might also be associated with theft from outbuildings such as sheds, barns or garages, automobiles, boats, planes, trains, churches or schools.
Do we have a cat burglar in Franklin who has been targeting automobiles this spring?
from FranklinNOW Police News -
(Updated 4/15/10)
Police Report – April 13th
THEFT
• A radar detector valued at $60 was taken from a vehicle in the 9300 block of South Sherwood Court between 9 p.m. April 6 and 5:50 a.m. April 7.
• A wallet was taken from a patient at The Surgery Center, 3111 W. Rawson Ave., about 1:05 p.m. April 7.
• A 30-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested for retail theft after hiding sushi and hot deli items in her purse at Sendik’s, 5200 W. Rawson Ave., about 12:25 p.m. April 8.
• Floor mats and a wallet, valued at $60, were taken from a vehicle in the 10500 block of West Candlestick Lane between 11p.m. April 10 and 10 a.m. April 11.
• CDs valued at $75 were taken from a vehicle in the 10600 block of West Monastery Drive prior to 11 a.m. April 11.
• A cell phone and sunglasses, valued at $110, and about $10 in change were taken from two vehicles in the 7500 block of Chapel Hill Court North prior to 11:30 a.m. April 11.
• A cell phone and digital media player, valued at $270, and about $13 in change were taken from two vehicles in the 10500 block of West Robinwood Lane prior to 1:35 p.m. April 11.
Police Report – April 5th
THEFT
• Prescription medication, a gift card and about $10 was taken from a vehicle in the 4100 block of West Thorncrest Drive prior to 1 p.m. March 28.
• A vehicle’s rear axle and two tires were removed in the 2800 block of West Drexel Avenue prior to 6:35 p.m. March 29. Loss is estimated at $1,000.
• A Global Positioning System and a digital camera, together valued at $225, were taken from a vehicle in the 3600 block of West Jerelin Drive between 7 p.m. March 29 and 6:45 a.m. March 30.
• A cell phone and $160 was taken from a vehicle in the 3700 block of West Jerelin Drive prior to 11:45 a.m. March 30.
• Prescription medications valued at $30 were taken from a vehicle at Plaza Motel, 8151 S. 27th St., between 10 p.m. March 30 and 10:50 a.m. March 31.
• A GPS and a disposable camera, together valued at $190, were taken from a vehicle in the 3600 block of West Southwood Drive prior to 1:30 p.m. April 2.
Police Report – March 29
THEFT
A work bag and briefcase containing personal and business documents was taken from a vehicle in the 7500 block of Francis Court East prior to 4:20 p.m. March 22.
• CDs, a roadside tool kit, sunglasses and an entertainment booklet were taken from a vehicle in the 3200 block of West Skamra Avenue between 9:15 p.m. March 22 and 5:30 a.m. March 23.
• A cell phone valued at $120 was taken from a gym locker at Forest Park Middle School, 8225 W. Forest Hill Ave., between 8:50 and 9:40 a.m. March 25.
• Several campaign signs were stolen or damaged in the 7900 block of South 68th Street prior to 3 p.m. March 26.
• Two Global Positioning Systems and a digital camera, valued together at $600, were taken from two unlocked vehicles in the 7400 block of West Brunn Drive between midnight and 7 a.m. March 27.
• About $1,890 worth of baby formula was taken from Walmart, 6701 S. 27th St., during the week prior to 12:15 p.m. March 27. More than a dozen people, male and female, are suspected to be involved. The men allegedly wear headsets and observe while the women take the formula.
• Wireless headphones and change were taken from a vehicle in the 9200 block of South Thorncrest Court between 7 p.m. March 27 and 8 a.m. March 28.
• Two GPS units, a hunting knife, savings passbook and about $80 was taken from five vehicles in the 4100 through 4400 blocks of West Southwood Drive prior to 1:15 p.m. March 28. Several other vehicles in the area were entered.
• A GPS valued at $150 was taken from a vehicle in the 9200 block of South 41st Street prior to 3:25 p.m. March 28.
Police Report – March 22nd
THEFT
A 28-year-old Greenfield woman was arrested for theft after taking bottles of liquor from Hugo’s Steakhouse, 6951 S. Lovers Lane Road, about 2:30 a.m. March 16.
• A stereo and two speakers, valued at $315, were taken from a vehicle in the 6300 block of South 35th Street prior to 5:40 a.m. March 16.
• Twenty-four vertical metal shelving racks were taken from Ashley Furniture Home Store, 6801 S. 27th St., about 1:35 p.m. March 16. A large U-Haul truck was seen leaving the back of the building.
• A mailbox was taken from a residence in the 7500 block of South 68th Street prior to 5 p.m. March 16.
• Lights and other landscaping items were taken from a yard in the 8200 block of South 42nd Street between 10:30 p.m. March 16 and 8:30 a.m. March 17.
• A 21-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for theft in the 400 block of South 91st Street in Milwaukee about noon March 18. He had taken a purse from a cart at Walmart, 6701 S. 27th St., about 11:45 a.m. March 16.
• A 62-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested for retail theft after taking an electrical splitter valued at $8 from Menards, 10925 W. Speedway Drive, about 12:10 p.m. March 19. He also was cited for operating an unregistered vehicle and failing to obey a traffic signal.
• A 14-year-old Franklin girl was arrested for theft, obstructing and underage possession of tobacco products in the 6300 block of South 35th Street about 2:15 p.m. March 19.
• Eight wood pallets and metal shelving, valued at $180, were taken from Franklin True Value Hardware, 8833 S. 27th St., between 9 p.m. March 19 and 2:30 a.m. March 20.
• A 24-year-old Illinois man was arrested for theft of a motor vehicle after he took a running, unoccupied vehicle from On the Border, 10741 S. 27th St., about 2:45 a.m. March 21.
• A digital media player valued at $75 was taken from a vehicle in the 7500 block of South 72nd Street prior to 8:30 a.m. March 21.
• A digital media player was taken from a residence in the 10300 block of West Loomis Road prior to 11 a.m. March 21. An acquaintance is suspected.
So what type of thief walks suburban streets during the dark of night, entering driveways and trying car doors, hoping to find those that are unlocked?
Lock your car doors, Franklin.
By Righty
Re: An Urgent Appeal from Mayor Tom Taylor to the Citizens of Franklin, Wisconsin, to the Representatives of the School Districts, the Businesses, and the Faith-Based Organizations of the City of Franklin to Immediately Contact Their State Representatives to Defeat Wisconsin 2009 Senate Bill 548 and 2009 Assembly Bill 759 that Would Nullify or Invalidate the City Of Franklin’s Sex Offender Residency Restriction and Child Safety Zone Ordinances
Dear Fellow Citizens of Franklin, Wisconsin:
As the Mayor of the City of Franklin, I am requesting your immediate help in trying to block an attempt by some Wisconsin State Legislators, whose areas are outside of Franklin, to pass legislative bills that would nullify or invalidate the City of Franklin’s sex offender residency restriction and child safety zone ordinances.
The City of Franklin’s sex offender residency restriction and child safety zone ordinances were enacted by your Common Council in an effort to make the City of Franklin a safer place for children and for women. These ordinances have been tested in the courts and according to our law enforcement officials, have served our community very well.
We, as a City government, have worked vigorously along with the members of the public to win court battles and political fights that challenged your right to enact reasonable and rational laws for the protection of your children. The City of Franklin and thousands of Franklin citizens fought at State Fair Park, at the State Capitol, and in the courtrooms to keep Franklin safe. I respectfully ask you, as the Mayor, to once again fight to protect your right to pass laws and keep laws in place for the safety of your family.
Your local elected officials are doing and will do what we can to fight this new attempt by a few state legislators to interfere in the people of Franklin’s right to self governance; however, there comes a point in a political battle (and that’s what we have here) where it is up to each and every resident that lives in Franklin to fight to keep their community safe by contacting their elected representatives.
As the Mayor and as your neighbor, I am imploring you to immediately take the same time you may take to place a phone order for a pizza, to make two calls to keep your family safer from sexual predators. Please call or send a message to Mary Lazich and Jeff Stone at the phone numbers below (leave a voice mail message if there is no answer):
Senator Mary Lazich, Sen.lazich@legis.wisconsin.gov, 1-608-266-5400, Room 109 South, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882
Representative Jeff Stone, Rep.stone@legis.wisconsin.gov, 1-608-266-8590, Room 314 North, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708.
Please urge Mary and Jeff to continue to fight this attempt by some in the State Legislature to interfere in your local government’s right to pass ordinances that serve to protect the children of Franklin. Both Mary Lazich and Jeff Stone have said that they agree that these bills should be defeated, but they need your help. Calling and writing e-mail messages to them will assist them in showing their colleagues that the people of Franklin care deeply about keeping ordinances in place that protect their families.
A democracy can only survive and flourish if the people’s voices are heard. This is your Community and this is your State. Please call, write, or email your State representatives as soon as possible at the numbers and addresses found in this letter. Please ask them for their support in fighting SB 548 and AB 759 and ask them how you can help them in assisting them to win the political battle to kill these two bills that may violate your State Constitutional rights. Please contact the candidates for Governor and those seeking state office for their support in killing SB 548 and AB 759. Find out where they stand on the right of local governments to pass and enact laws that protect their citizens. Ask each candidate what he or she will do today to kill this irresponsible proposed legislation.
We in Franklin have fought too hard and for too long to let a few people that live outside our community dictate what we can or cannot do as citizens of Franklin, Wisconsin.
I have been informed that two individuals in particular are pushing for the passage of these two divisive bills. I was told that Senator Lena Taylor and Representative Frederick Kessler are supporting these two very controversial pieces of legislation. You may wish to contact both of them to voice your opposition to SB 548 and AB 759. You may also wish to contact Governor Doyle’s Office to strongly voice your opposition to these two bills. I have included contact information for those mentioned above as part of this letter to you.
I and a number of elected officials and citizens will be traveling to Madison to fight these two bills, but it is absolutely essential that the members of the Wisconsin State Legislature hear from the residents of Franklin who are also Wisconsin taxpayers. I have been informed that there is a public hearing proposed for AB 759 on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 10:15 a.m., before the Committee on Corrections and the Courts of the Wisconsin State Legislature in the Assembly, in Room 415 Northwest in the State Capitol. There may be an attempt to push these two bills through now or prior to the Legislature’s adjournment on April 22, or prior to Governor Doyle leaving office. That is why you must act immediately.
Many other Wisconsin cities, villages, and towns adopted sex offender residency restriction and/or child safety zone ordinances after Franklin adopted its ordinances. You may wish to contact your friends and relatives living in other parts of Wisconsin and ask them to contact their Senator and Representative and urge them to oppose these two bills.
Please help me and the aldermen stop these types of attacks that erode our right as citizens to home rule.
Sincerely,
Thomas M. Taylor
Mayor of the City of Franklin
Other Contact Information:
Senator Lena Taylor, Sen.taylor@legis.wisconsin.gov, 1-608-266-5810
Room 415 South, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882
Senator Jim Sullivan, Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov, 1-608-266-2512
Room 15 South, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707
Representative Frederick Kessler, Rep.kessler@legis.wisconsin.gov, 1-608-266-5813
Room 302 North, State Capitol, P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
Governor Doyle’s Office
P.O. Box 7863
Madison, WI 53707
1-608-266-1212
P.S. Please read the attached Resolution 2010-6630 that was recently passed by your City of Franklin Common Council that opposes Senate Bill 548 and Assembly Bill 759.
Links
Senate Bill 548
Assembly Bill 759
Wisconsin State Legislature
Within the State of Wisconsin, the City of Franklin is at the forefront of communities pursuing efforts to protect their citizens, especially children, from sexual predators. Following a series of public hearings and meetings before the City Plan Commission and Common Council, the Common Council adopted two ordinances to help enhance such protections.
The first ordinance, Ordinance 2006-1902, is a regulatory measure identifying sex offenders as a serious threat to public safety. Based in part on this determination, the ordinance restricts the ability of a sex offender from residing within 2,000 feet of schools, daycare centers, parks, and other specified facilities. This restriction would apply to any sex offender newly housed in the City of Franklin following its adoption. The ordinance also protects those facilities specified, and the children frequenting them, by creating Child Safety Zones.
In general, the second ordinance, Ordinance 2007-1905, allows for enforcement of the restrictions through the issuance of municipal violations and through obtaining injunctive relief from the courts under the City’s zoning authority.
Among the first of their kind in Wisconsin, these ordinances follow similar legislative actions in other states and accounts for state and federal court actions on these matters.
These ordinance changes follow filings in July (see below petitions) with the State’s Department of Health and Family Services and Department of Corrections requesting clear information as to certain policies relating to the management, release, and housing of sexual predators. Furthermore, the City demanded that the State adhere to their rules and enforce their policies that were in place. As a result of those filings and stipulations provided by the State in October, the City is working cooperatively with the State to ensure improvements are made to existing policies and to ensure the State improves their communication with City of Franklin law enforcement officials.
Be assured that the City of Franklin will continue to take any action necessary to provide for the safety of our children and citizens in protecting against sexual offenders.
Press Release, July 27, 2006: City of Franklin Files for Ruling on State Handling of Sexually Violent Persons
Notice of Events Giving Rise to Claim Pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 893.82
Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Full Hearing on the Merits Pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 227.41; City of Franklin v. State of Wisconsin - Department of Health and Family Services
Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Full Hearing on the Merits Pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 227.41; City of Franklin v. State of Wisconsin - Department of Corrections
Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Full Hearing on the Merits Pursuant to Wis. Stat. Section 227.41; City of Franklin v. State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services – Sand Ridge Secure Treatment
By Righty
Attorney Roger C. Pyzyk presented an agreement to suspend the bartending licenses of Jeffrey M. Belski and Carrie Karlson for 90 days each. The License Committee, which consists of Alderman Tim Solomon, Alderman Steve Taylor, and Alderman Kristen Wilhelm then went into closed session (this is where the3 podcast ends). They then returned into open session and unanimously rejected the proposed agreement for Jeffrey Belski. They then again went into closed session, and again rejected the proposed agreement for Carrie Karlson.
Return to In The Race
By Righty
Agenda Items
G8 Role of the Environmental Commission in assignments not defined by Ordinance
and
G9 Membership of the Environmental Commission
Present at the meeting were Aldermen Olson, Solomon, Wilhelm, Taylor, Sohns, and Mayor Taylor. Alderman Skowronski was excused.
Part One
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Part Two
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Part Three
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Part Four
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Part Five
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Part Six
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Return to In The Race
By Righty
Agenda Item G12:
Authorize the Director of Administration to authorize and expend up to $7,500 for professional services to develop economic impact data relative to the Drexel Avenue interchange.
#1
Mr. Luberda, Mayor Taylor, Alderman Taylor
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#2
Alderman Wilhelm, Mr. Luberda, Alderman Sohns, Alderman Skowronski
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#3
Mr. Luberda, Mayor Taylor, Alderman Solomon
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#4
Alderman Taylor, Alderman Sohns, Mayor Taylor and then Vote in favor to Table
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Agenda
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Franklin Common Council Meeting 10/21/08 ~ In The Race
By Righty
Item G3. Resolution supporting continued cooperation with City of Oak Creek on development of the South 27th Street Corridor and supporting development of an overall cost sharing agreement for projects impacting the entire corridor, including the Drexel Avenue Interchangeand
Item G4. a reading by the City Clerk of a letter regarding the Donation to the Franklin Fire Department from Mrs. Darcy McKendry in the amount of $500 for the Fire Education Fund.
Item G5. Request by St. James Congregation for a certified survey map for their property located at 7219 S. 27th Street to be provided by the City of Franklin and
Part 1
Part 2
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Franklin Common Council Meeting 10/07/08 ~ In the Race
