FRANKLIN SPECTATOR

Oak Creek’s Howell Avenue Just Keeps Getting Busier and Busier And Busier…

2009-07-31T16:03:29Z

According to a story that recently appeared in FranklinNOW, “A bank could be the newest addition to a part of Oak Creek that promises to only get busier...”

The story reports that a yet to be named bank, is planning a one-story, 5500-square foot building in the 8100 block of S. Howell Avenue. This area of Oak Creek is already home to such popular, retail businesses as Woodman's Grocery Store, Buffalo Wild Wings, and a Sonic restaurant, which is currently under construction.

With the addition of this new bank, Oak Creek’s Plan Commission is becoming concerned about potential traffic congestion in this area of Howell Avenue; prompting Oak Creek Mayor Dick Bolender to suggest that developers take a hard look at ways to create the best possible traffic flow for the bank, which will include drive-through service.

Oak Creek’s stretch of Howell Ave. from roughly Rawson Ave., to just south of Puetz Rd., is steadily becoming what any reasonably-minded person would see as Oak Creek’s blossoming, downtown. This view is further fueled by the fact that this same area will also include Oak Creek’s New Civic Center Development.

Here’s the $2 Billion question: What incentive do Oak Creek City leaders have to promote economic activity in the OakCreek-Franklin Joint South 27th Street Corridor Project?

At last night’s Joint 27th Street Steering Committee Meeting, I posed this question to committee members. Here is the BATTLE JOINED Livescribe recording of my comments during the citizen comment period.

Franklin Alderman Steve Olson and Oak Creek committee member, Marie Myszkowski were kind enough to respond to my comments.

30JUL09 J27SSC MTG
brought to you by Livescribe

Next week BATTLE JOINED will take-up, and reveal, the great folly of the 27th Street Corridor Project—from a Franklin taxpayer’s perspective—and let its readers know what Franklin’s elected officials aren’t telling you about this future, so-called “unifying place for the cities of Franklin and Oak Creek.”

Sen. Lazich: “I support the proposed Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake in Franklin”

2009-07-28T15:06:44Z

State Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) enthusiastically supports Sacred Heart at Monastery Lake in Franklin, the latest Development proposed Mark Carstensen Construction.

BATTLE JOINED wrote about this proposed development last Thursday, two days after Franklin’s hometown-boy presented his project to the Franklin Common Council and Franklin citizens at the Common Council Meeting on Tuesday, July 21.

Lazich’s letter to Mayor Taylor and the Common Council—included in her July 27 blog post—does not include a date (Gee, that's weird, isn't it?), which suggests she or her aide, Franklin blogger and "City Hall-insider," Kevin Fischer, are trying to hide the fact that this letter of support was delivered July 20, the day BEFORE the proposed development was presented publicly to her constituents, the citizens of Franklin. How’s that for government transparency? What else is transpiring behind the scenes at city hall between Lazich, other state officials, and Franklin’s elected officials?

This entire affair also begs the question: How much has Carstensen contributed to Sen. Lazich’s campaign coffers, as well as present Franklin Common Council members, including Mayor Taylor, who at the moment, is dealing with his own "campaign issues"?

Observation Post: Fischer Pushes Father And Son Under The Bus

2009-07-28T13:28:59Z

OBSERVING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE MISGUIDED

BATTLE JOINED has observed that in a number of recent posts questioning whether nepotism by Franklin Little League coaches, played any part in the fact that 12-year old Devin Baehr was not chosen for the Little League All-Star team, Franklin blogger and politico groupie, Kevin Fischer opined:

It’s a pretty good bet that those responsible for slighting 12-year old Devin Baehr by keeping him off the Franklin Little League All-Star team never dreamed the story would appear on a community blog and then be discussed by the most popular talk show host on Wisconsin’s most popular radio station.

One of Charlie Sykes’ callers was Franklin High School varsity baseball coach Jim Hughes who has complied over 700 career victories. Hughes told Sykes and his vast audience he had seen Devin Baehr pitch in person and that he truly deserved All-Star honors.

Hughes’ assessment is more than good enough for me.

For whatever reasons or rationale they used, the people responsible for snubbing Baehr flat out messed up. There’s something terribly wrong when the kids of various managers make the All-Star team while a deserving youngster like Baehr does not...

However, of late, we've observed that Fischer is now one of Franklin Little League’s biggest fans. So, why the “180”?

It’s a pretty good bet that that Fischer got the word to back-off Franklin Little League from Alderman Steve Olson (Fischer’s BFF), who was likely “persuaded” to get the "message" to Fischer, from the very politically-connected, David Bartels, former Franklin Little League President and current board member.

This was obviously all Fischer needed to push young, Devin Baehr and his Father Carl, under the bus.

Live and learn.

Observation Post: All Is Fair In Love & Blogs?

2009-07-27T14:17:38Z

OBSERVING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE MISGUIDED

After dozens of attempts and years of trying, FranklinNOW’s “Blogger-in Chief” Kevin Fischer, has finally succeeded in “jumping the shark” and the unintended consequences of his "courageous" feat may not be welcomed by this long-time bully of the blogs.

In the comments section of a recent post the “Voice of Franklin,” saw fit to write the following about Freshman School Board member Janet Evans, a favorite target of Fischer’s adolescent, name-calling:

You see, now that I am safely in office, I don't dare write about anything controversial or provocative. Instead, I'll just pose for holy pictures, thank you very much ("I am your voice"). I would rather focus on the next Franklin school bake sale or car wash. I have become Barney of the Blogs! I am now Suzy Cream Cheese!

So, what was the intent behind these latest words of wisdom from this irrelevant, politico groupie? Since I’m not a veteran broadcaster like Fischer, I’m not exactly sure. Is it possible that this legislative aide to laughingstock, state Sen. Mary Lazich was sending his readers some sort of cryptic message? Beats me, I'm as clueless as Sen. Lazich on this, but here are my takeaways.

Franklin schools bake sales, car washes and Franklin school board members who participate in them: BAD! Dunk Tank fundraisers and Wisconsin state senators who participate in them: GOOD!
Janet Evans—according to Fischer—is “Barney of the Blogs!” But which “Barney” was Fischer referring to; big purple, loveable, Barney or town drunk Barney? The latter would certainly be ironic.
For "dessert," the bomb-throwing Fischer sexually degrades Janet Evans by referring to her as a "Suzy Cream Cheese!" Could this derogatory remark be a clue to Fischer's past? Is Kevin Fischer actually an old, closet hippie?!

Parents of Private School Students Rightfully Get Gift Horse

2009-07-24T13:27:59Z

According to FranklinNOW more than 50 supporters of private school busing showed up at Wednesday night’s school board meeting with hopes that board members would reverse an earlier decision to cut $90,000 from its 2009-10 budget for private school student busing. Facing estimated state funding cuts of more 15 percent the school board was not swayed.

Although affected families were unhappy with the decision, Franklin taxpayers are not completely off the hook when it comes to funding private school student transportation. As school board member Janet Evans pointed out in a recent blog post, the district will spend approximately $40,000 in the coming school year, an increase of nearly $7500 over last year, to compensate the families of 118 private school students for transportation.

While congratulating the board for upholding its earlier decision, BATTLE JOINED was a bit confused by this statement attributed to School Board President Dave Szychlinski in the FranklinNOW article:

“There would likely be more budget cuts made before earlier cuts would be restored.”

We agree that more budget cuts are needed; however, the school board should not offset spending cuts by “restoring earlier cuts.” As for making up for funding cuts we recommend serious spending cuts.

Mark Carstensen: “We Are Overregulated Here In Franklin.”

2009-07-24T01:08:59Z

Well, who the HELL are you… Mark Carstensen? Who, who, who, who?

Skeletons Just Beginning To Somersault From City Hall Closets

2009-07-21T20:33:36Z

In the shoplifting case, Lewandowski pleaded no contest to retail theft, an ordinance violation, from the Franklin Wal-Mart on Aug. 28, 1998. She was found guilty and paid a $283 fine, according to Franklin Municipal Court.

ROSEANN LEWANDOWSKIThat is the last paragraph in JSOnline’s story about former Franklin School Board President Roseann Lewandowski, now charged with stealing $990 from a "close friend of 20 years," including $880 in Franklin Little League funds from the same woman's home May 21.

BATTLE JOINED has a few concerns with, and questions for, City leaders after reading that paragraph. The same holds true for the Franklin School Board during the time Lewandowski served on the Board.

In a community the size of Franklin for anyone to believe that the Mayor and the Franklin Common Council did not know that in 1998, Lewandowski plead no contest to retail theft from the FRANKLIN Wal-Mart, was found guilty and paid a $283 fine, in FRANKLIN MUNICIPAL COURT, would require "a willing suspension of disbelief."

Lewandowski was president of the School Board before resigning for “personal reasons” in 2002. She was first elected in 1992.

In 1998, did the Franklin School Board cover-up the fact that Lewandowski was found guilty of the Wal-Mart theft, permitting her to continue to serve until 2002?

Lewandowski served on the city's 50th Anniversary Committee in 2005, the Personnel Committee until 2006, and most recently on the Fair Commission until her “resignation” the other day.

Did the Mayor nominate Lewandowski, and the Common Council approve her appointment to these committees, covering-up or ignoring the fact that in 1998, she was found guilty in Franklin Municipal Court of retail theft?

Futhermore, is this latest theft just the tip of the iceberg? How close is Lewandowski to Mayor Taylor or any Common Council members, present or past? Was Lewandowski part of the infamous FCRL (Franklin Citizens for Responsible Leadership) charged with campaign finance violations in 2006, and subsequently ordered to disband in 2008? And finally, how close is Lewandowski with current or past members of the Franklin School Board?

Stay tuned...

Superintendent Patz & Company: All In All, You’re Just Another Brick In The Wall

2009-07-21T14:04:59Z

A joint BATTLE JOINED-Pink Floyd message to Franklin School Board members, Superintendent Steve Patz, and his cadre of America History revisionists...

Observation Post: Slammer Time?

2009-07-21T12:56:12Z

OBSERVING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE MISGUIDED

BATJO ( BATTLE JOINED) observed the following and rather odd headline in FranklinNOW: 'Nanny cam' brings theft case against Franklin community leader, and asks; wasn’t stealing more than $900 what really brought charges against "community leader" and apparent kleptomaniac, Roseanne Lewandowski?

And while very curious, BATJO has no desire to observe nanny cam video of Lewandowski stuffing anything in her bra. If Lewandowski is sentenced to time in the “big house,” its worth noting that she won’t have to leave Franklin. How lucky is that?

A One-way Ticket To Palookaville For Franklin?

2009-07-20T15:07:08Z

“You don't understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could've been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am, let's face it!”

In 2007 the City of Franklin ranked 90th on Money Magazine’s annual list of the Top 100 Best Places to Live. In 2008, only cities with populations between 50,000 and 300,000 were eligible for the Best Places to Live List. Although a “contender” in 2009, 11 cities scored a decisive “knock-out” against the one-time, Top 100 champ-turned-bum; stripping Franklin of its title.

So now, in addition to the New Berlin School Board dropping Franklin’s Board of Education Board—on the issue of school taxes—much like Ali dropped Foreman, the City of New Berlin, a virtual sister-city to Franklin, leaped seven spots on the Top 100 List from 41 in 2007, to 34 this year.

While City of Franklin leaders from Mayor Taylor; who describes Franklin as “Magnificent” (watch Mayor’s “This is Franklin” video on FranklinNOW), to long-time Alderman, Steve Olson, among others on the common council, “talk” about the “$2 billion” Joint 27th Street Corridor Project—a BOOMGAARD-turned-BOONDOGGLE—and point to the “success” of Franklin Business Park, New Berlin’s leaders are consistently delivering results.

The statistics used in Money Magazine’s 2009, side-by-side comparison of the two cities indicates how similar they are with the noticeable exception of 2000-2008 Job growth performance. However, based upon the following headlines, 2009 is looking rather bleak for Franklin:

Magnificent?