Celebrating 175 years: 'Vibrator Capitol of the World'

Standard Electric Works Factory, 1313 12th St. 

By Gerald L. Karwowski, www.racinehistory.com

Few people today know the story of the Racine business men who were instrumental in changing the world with their labor saving devices. Things we use every day like mixers, hair dryers, vacuums and vibrators were items they helped create.

Racine became known as “The Fractional Electric Motor Capitol of the World” because of the number of high-quality small motors manufactured here.

Racine could also be called the “Vibrator Capitol of the World,” because there were at least seven companies that manufactured vibrators here. Major companies that were known all over world like Hamilton-Beach, Oster, Allover, Master, Arnold, Andis and Racine Electric Co.

The booming small electric motor industry Racine enjoyed for many decades all started when Frederick Osius established the United States Standard Electric Works , April 19, 1904 with a capitol of $25,000, F. J. Osius, Pres; C.K. Carpenter, V-pres; George Schmitz, sec/ treas; to develop and manufacture small electric products in rented space on the 4th floor of the Secor Building at 245 Main Street ( Main Place). The company’s first product was a massage vibrator which was patented by Fred Osius and marketed as medical device for doctors. In early advertisements they were marketed as Dr. Arnold’s Massage Vibrators with the tagline, “Get Well and Keep Well Without Drugs."

In 1909 the company expanded and constructed a new three-story 50,000 square foot brick factory at 1218 Washington Avenue to manufacture and assemble their growing line of electrical products.

Within the year everything suddenly changed when the company sold the rights to a vacuum cleaner they invented for $300,000 to the McCrum-Howell Co., which also bought the new manufacturing plant. During the chain of events Osius sold out to his business partners and the Standard Electric Works moved next door in a smaller factory building at 1313 12th St. in January 1910.

When McCrum-Howell went bankrupt a few years later Standard Electric Works purchased their building back an by 1915 it was re-incorporated as Arnold Electric Co.; capital of $100,000; George Schmitz, Pres; Joseph Schmitz, sec-treas.

In April of 1910 Frederick Osius (left) founded his new company Hamilton-Beach to manufacture quality electrical products.

Chester Beach’s daughter Ella said, “ Osius paid my father and Louis Hamilton $1,000 each to use their names for his new company.” The pair left Standard Electric and joined Osius in the new corporation which was located in rented space in the Greene Manufacturing building at 1028 Douglas Avenue. The first products were a line of high-quality vibrators, small motors and their new “Cyclone Drink Mixer." The mixer was designed to agitate Horlick’s Malted Milk and it was the first practical electric drink mixer of its kind in the world. Chester Beach is credited for his inventive genius in developing the new Universal high-speed fractional motor used in the products. However, the Osius, Beach and Hamilton connection was short lived. By 1913 Chester Beach and Louis Hamilton both had left the firm and founded their own business Wisconsin Electric Company (Dumore).

Hamilton-Beach continued to grow under Osius’s leadership adding dozens of new products like sewing machine motors, fans and vacuums. In 1915, the company expanded building a new factory on Rapids Drive to keep up with the growing demand.

In 1922, Osius sold the Company to Scovill Mfg. for an unknown amount and moved to Miami, Fla. where he built a pretentious home on Millionaires' Row. Osius was quite the eccentric. He refused to have a telephone in his mansion. He said, “The friends who particularly want to see me will come to the house.”

1911 drawing of the Mc Crum-Howell (Arnold Building) at 1218 Washington Ave.

In 1931 Hamilton-Beach bought Arnold Electric Company and blended the Arnold products into the Hamilton-Beach product lines. Through the following decades the company ran smoothly with mixers being restyled every few years with a lot of chrome added during the 1950s and '60s. In 1968 the company closed the Racine plant.

A former Hamilton Beach Employee credits the Hamilton-Beach electric knife as the reason the company closed their plant in Racine. He said, “It was a instant success” and Scovill explored ways to capitalize on that product to make even more profits." 

At the time southern states were offering great incentives for business who would move. Hamilton-Beach took advantage of their offers which put an end to the era of Hamilton-Beach manufacturing in Racine.

Fight over CAR25 consultant may change city law

Remember the fights earlier this year about the mayor hiring a public information officer and trying to hire a consultant for CAR25?

Both may be history if the City Council approves a change in how the city bids out contracts for professional services. Aldermen Terry McCarthy and Greg Helding won support Monday night for their proposal to require the city to bid out any professional services contract that exceeds $25,000. Right now professionals services, such as legal fees and consultants, are exempt from competitive bids.

The council's Finance and Personnel Committee approved the new bidding process Monday. Along with requiring bids for contracts over $25,000, the new policy also directs the city's purchasing manager to secure and record three informal bids for contracts under $25,000, if practical.

The new ordinance is expected to effect about 12 city contracts. Legal fees that average less than $50,000 per year of a contract are exempt under the proposed changes.

The bidding process came under review earlier this year after controversy arose over Mayor John Dickert's plans to award a $40,000 no-bid contract to a local TV producer to overhaul CAR 25. The mayor was also questioned about awarding RAMAC a contract to hire PIO Mark Eickhorst for $25,000 without taking bids.

Both contracts would require competitive bids under Helding and McCarthy's proposal.

City Council votes to revoke 16th Street gas station's liquor license; AD Petroleum heads to due process hearing

A gas station with a reputation for selling liquor after 9 p.m. appears ready to change its ways.

AD Petroleum at 1917 16th St. got a stern warning from the city Monday night after a police officer organized four undercover stings catching the store in the act of breaking state law, which requires convenience to stop selling liquor at 9 p.m. 

The store has broken the law repeatedly over the years, according to a police officer who appeared before the Public Safety and Licensing Committee Monday night. The officer said a fatal car accident in the 1700 block of 16th Street was cause, at least in part, because the driver was going to AD Petroleum to buy alcohol at 11:20 p.m. 

"The suspect wouldn't have been in the neighborhood if they couldn't have purchased alcohol (at AD Petroleum)," the officer said. 

Police also said a shooting at AD Petroleum in 2008 was related to AD Petroleum selling liquor after hours. That incident drew a personal rebuke from Police Chief Kurt Wahlen. 

Attorney Franklyn Gimbel criticized the city for how it handled violations against AD Petroleum, which is owned by Kamaljit and Deepinder Dhaliwal. He said the eight violations documents by police were delivered to the Dhaliwals at one time. If they had been delivered individually, shortly after they occurred, the owners would have fixed the problem after the first offense. 

But Gimbel also conceded there was merit to the city's concerns. He said the Dhaliwals had already started covering its liquor section with a curtain at 9 p.m. to clearly show it is not available, and posted a sign telling people when liquor sales end.

Gimbel added the Dhaliwals would voluntarily turn in their liquor license if they are caught selling liquor after hours again.

"There has certainly been a wake up call for Mr. Dhaliwal about the risks of sloppy liquor sale management," Gimbel said.

The police officer who organized the undercover stings said he had personally warned Dhaliwal about selling liquor after 9 p.m. He also told the committee he had statements from neighborhood residents who are concerned about AD Petroleum, but Gimbel objected to the officer sharing the statements and committee Chairman Aron Wisneski agreed. Wisneski said he would rather have the residents state their concerns in person.

"I don't think the alderman understand the scope of the effect on the neighborhood," the officer told the committee.

The committee voted 3-0 to reach a "side agreement" with AD Petroleum to curb after-hour sales. The agreement will be drafted by City Attorney Rob Weber and Gimbel, and then return to the Public Safety and Licensing Committee for approval.

Update: The City Council voted 7-5 Tuesday night to try and take AD Petroleum's liquor license. The council voted to reject the side agreement with the gas station and head to a due process hearing, which is basically a trial with the city presenting a case to revoke the license.

WRJN's Tom Karkow has a report on the meeting. He described debate over AD Petroleum of at times being "heated."

Forget the gym; garden gives a good workout!

Photos by Kandy Meyers

Who needs the gym, when you can work out in the garden?

Competitors from the Biggest Losers contest at Anchor Fitness worked out for 90 minutes at the Racine Urban Garden Network's new community garden Saturday morning. Instead of barbells and weight machines, they raced back and forth, hauling wheelbarrows full of mulch to the gardens, and then spread it to a depth of six inches.

Meanwhile, one member of each team was mowing -- with an old push mower.

They kept up a steady pace for the whole hour and a half, and did such a good job that everyone got immunity for the effort, and none was kicked off the team.

At the end they said it was one of their hardest workouts.

The garden site is at 8th and Marquette. For information about reserving your own plot, go to the RUGN website.

Photo by Sherri Myers Wray

Carnival has moved on, but the memories remain

Regency Mall's parking lot is relatively quiet again, and that's a shame.

For the past few days, it's been a cacaphony of sound: shrieks of fear mixed with cries of pleasure. Mechanical sounds: the clicking, cranking, whooshing of big machines. Child sounds: tears of denial, whining, happy sounds.

Meanwhile, the colors of the carnival were everywhere -- thousands of lights at night, bright enamel colors of midway rides everywhere you looked -- left, right, straight up in the air. With names like Pharoh's Fury, Zero Gravity, Bumble Bee Bop, Freak Out and Cliff Hanger. Rides that sometimes lasted barely 90 seconds -- yes, we're talking about you, Freak Out -- but that was long enough.

And now it's gone. The carnival rides and all that oh-so-bad-for-you, but-oh-so-delicious food (cotton candy, candy apples, hot dogs, pizza, soda) have moved on to Brookfield, or somewhere else. (Along with the Midway "games" in which the truly skillful or very lucky have a chance to win a useless prize worth less than the entry price.) But have no fear; other carnivals will take its place, if not at Regency Mall, then at one of the myriad church festivals. The fun of summer usually lasts all summer, and this is just the beginning.

Check our Kiosk for lots more fun. And in the meantime, enjoy the pictures from Regency Mall's now-departed carnival. And ask yourself, if that had been you swinging near the top of Pharoh's Fury, would you have been text-messaging?

Video: Promoting Racine's recycling bins, OOHP style

The Over Our Head Players have a great new video on YouTube promoting the use of the city's new blue recycling bins. The video introduces viewers to "Recycle Ron" and his wife, "Responsible Rosie," who are contrasted with "Landfill Larry" and "Lazy Linda." Click above to watch (and checkout RacinePost's cameo!).

Mayor has multiple goals for bike challenge

Mayor Dickert leads the way at the start of the Mayor's Bike Challenge

 
Mayor John Dickert, along with his wife and two kids, led about 30 cyclists on a bike ride along some of the city's bike paths Saturday. It was a hot and humid day -- but OK for a bike ride -- but the mayor had more than just the fun of being outdoors on two wheels on his mind.

In a short warm-up message before the ride, which began at the Tyler-Domer Community Center and was slated to end at the REC Center, Dickert outlined his three goals:

1. "Get out on your bikes and ride, and get healthy."
2. "Remind drivers that the bike paths exist."
3. "Get more of the city's bike paths designated, so they're easier for tourists -- and us -- to find."

Dickert related how he once was riding his bicycle on a bike path in Milwaukee ... and suddenly found himself totally lost. The path had ended, and he didn't really know where he was. He doesn't want that to happen here. Showing off the city's map of bike paths, he noted that while many are designated -- marked and striped -- many are not.

Getting more of them designated "is a priority," he said, adding, "The challenge is money."

Alderman Greg Helding, who was also along on the ride, pointed out that unless streets are already wide enough for a bike path -- so only striping is needed -- adding one to road construction adds 10% to 20% to the cost, for the wider pavement.

As Dickert preps riders, his wife, Teresa, and daughter, Eleanor, cheer each other on

Tresa and Dewey Johnson, with her pre-WWII bicycle

One of the more interesting bikes at the Mayor's bike ride Saturday morning belonged to Tresa Johnson, and her husband of 37 years, Dewey. Tresa said she bought her bike 42 years ago -- with $10 earned from baby-sitting. Although she's unsure of the make, she knows the bike, found at a yard sale when she was a teenager, dates from before World War II. Just look at that old-fashioned kick-stand!

Tresa has ridden the bike consistently. Dewey cleaned it up, put on new fenders and those boss whitewall tires, but the frame is original. "I've always enjoyed it," Tresa said. "Riding is relaxing and healthy, and I get to talk to interesting people."

And with that, she and Dewey gave me a honk or two from their squeaky horns, and were off!

'First Friday' leaves Downtown Racine jumpin'

Beautiful weather drew a huge crowd to Downtown Racine Friday night for the "First Fridays" event on Main and Sixth streets. Parking was scarce and Monument Square was jumping as people gathered to hear bands, shop in Downtown stores and hang out with friends. Above is a slideshow of photos from a great event!

Meet the latest Zoo visitor

7' African Dwarf Crocodile

Four reptiles who've been free-loading at the Racine Zoo since May 18 deigned to pose for photographs this morning.

Sort of.

Three crocs, and a 150-year-old (more or less) Alligator Snapping Turtle, were taken into custody in Milwaukee last month when hundreds of reptiles were discovered in appalling conditions in a home and warehouse belonging to a man wanted for sexual assault. At that point, the reptiles were "evidence" to be kept under wraps by the various zoos called to take them in. WTMJ has photos of what animal control experts first found when they went to the building to take the reptiles into custody as evidence.

Well, they are "no longer evidence," Racine Zoo director Jay Cristie said this morning. That may be explained by the arrest of Terry Cullen, a reptile expert who was arrested and charged with trapping and sexually assaulting a woman in his home.

In any case, Christie led me through the basement of the Zoo's Vanishing Kingdom this morning, where the crocs were ensconced in individual cages, each with water and a plywood deck to crawl upon. The turtle slept (?) in a blue wading pool. None showed any interest at all in our presence; two of them -- an 8-ft. long African Slender Snouted Croc and a 7-ft. long species yet undetermined -- stayed mostly out of sight, under benches.

The crocs show a little more enthusiasm at feeding time. Dinner is fresh frozen rats, warmed under a heat lamp, and maybe some fish, according to the Zoo's animal care specialist Theresa Donarski. Food for the four costs about $20 per day, paid for by the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission.

The Zoo has no plans to put the crocs on public display. In fact, it already has two crocs of its own that are displayed only on rare occasions. Yet to be determined is the reptiles' eventual destinations. Christie believes one may belong to a Miami Zoo. The crocs' availability has been posted on Zoo listservs, Christie says, "but no peers are holding open any croc exhibits hoping to get one of these." So far, anyway.

A member of the Zoo's Board of Directors, Dr. Greg Mayer, a professor at UW-Parkside, will examine them soon. Fecal tests have already shown that they reptiles are not infected with parasites.

 One very big Alligator Snapping Turtle, oblivious to visitors 

Since we were at the Zoo anyway, we stopped in to see how lion cubs Badu and Zuka are doing. Here they are, playing with Mom Elsa in their display exhibit, charming -- with much more personality than the crocs, it must be said -- scores of young school children this morning.

Police shoot felon with gun on Thursday night

Racine Police shot Eric S. Conley, 21, a convicted felon, Thursday night, after checking reports of a suspicious man with a gun. Although hit twice, Conley's injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. A weapon was recovered.

Here's the initial Police report:

Suspect: Eric S. Conley 2-7-89 - address not confirmed

On 6-3-10 at approximately 11:15 p.m., Racine Police Officers were checking in the area of Mt. Pleasant Street & Romayne Avenue for a suspicious male who was possibly carrying a gun. Two uniformed Police Officers confronted the suspect in the rear yard of the apartment complex at 2100 Romayne Ave.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect failed to follow officer commands and his actions were a threat to officers. Initial findings are that one officer fired two shots from his service handgun at the suspect. The suspect was stuck by two bullets. The suspect's injuries are not believed to be life threatening. A suspect weapon (gun) was recovered at the scene of the shooting.

The suspect is a convicted felon. It is anticipated that the Racine Police Department will at a minimum seek a criminal charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and a Probation Hold.

Proposed West Racine grocery store, gas station is dead

The JT's Paul Sloth is reporting tonight that Tom Tousis's plans to build a grocery store, restaurant and gas station in West Racine is dead.

Tousis and the city split ways after the city concluded Tousis's project was not worth enough money to pay off loans the city took out to demolish buildings on the site at the corner of Washington Avenue and West Boulevard. But a number of factors complicated the roughly $3 million development, which was one of the largest new construction commercial projects on the table in the city in the past year. 

Initially, Tousis faced opposition from West Racine business owners who were opposed to a gas station on the site. Opponents were concerned the gas pumps were a bad fit for an area that prides itself on small businesses and being walkable. 

A number of supporters mobilized in favor of Tousis's project, including local labor unions looking for a sizable project to create new jobs. Tousis had vowed to use local union workers for the job. 

Tousis's plans hit a snag when his team discovered a sewer pipe running through the property. The discovery forced them to downsize a $5 million project to between $3 million and $4 million (there was disagreement on the number), a reduction that ultimately doomed the project. It may also jeopardize future plans for the site. Along with the sewer pipe there's evidence the property could be contaminated from past use, including a mechanic's shop and as a dump for foundry slag. Both factors, as well as some complicated utility easements, will make new construction on the site challenging. 

(As an aside, the Department of Natural Resources awarded the city a $40,075 grant in 2007 to remediate a small brownfield site, the former Wisconsin Muffler Property at 3124 W. Washington Ave., across the street from the land Tousis wanted to build on. Gov. Jim Doyle announced the grant in a press release sent statewide. But in 2008 the city returned the grant and told the DNR they didn't want to use the money, according to a DNR official. 

"It doesn't sound like they did any of the cleanup work they were proposing or did anything to create the green space," said the official, who reviewed the state's official records on the brownfield grant.)

The city and Tousis are now playing out the end game of roughly a year's worth of back-and-forths over the West Racine project. The city's Redevelopment Authority actually granted Tousis an option on the site, and Tousis paid the city $5,000 for the option. 

The RDA then decided it needed to reconsider the timeline for the project, which set off the final round of negotiations that led to the proposal's collapse. The RDA is now expected to vote next week to cancel the option and refund Tousis's $5,000. The proposal only needs RDA approval, according to a memo from Brian O'Connell. 

As for the city, it's begun to look at new projects. One idea is to work with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to build a housing development for the deaf and blind. While WHEDA has turned down Racine projects in recent years, the West Racine project could move forward because it has a unique purpose, according to an insider. But even with the unique focus it will be difficult for the city to obtain the loans. 

Here's the resolution the RDA is expected to vote on next week:

REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY RESOLUTION 10-17 

WHEREAS, on December 14, 2009, by resolution 09-30, the Redevelopment Authority granted an option to Tom Tousis (d.b.a. Better Day Petroleum Company) to redevelop the Authority’s properties in the 3101-3121 block of Washington Avenue; and 

WHEREAS, Mr. Tousis has requested that the deadlines in the option be amended to provide additional time to complete project design, obtain regulatory approvals, and arrange financing; and 

WHEREAS, representatives of the Authority and Mr. Tousis have been unable to reach a mutually acceptable agreement on terms and conditions for the extension. 

RESOLVED, that the option granted to Tom Tousis (d.b.a. Better Day Petroleum Company) to redevelop the Authority’s properties in the 3101-3121 block of Washington Avenue is not extended; and 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that in recognition of the good faith efforts by both parties and their mutual desire not to incur additional costs related to the development proposal, the Executive Director is authorized and directed to refund to Mr. Tousis his option fee of $5,000.00. 

Fiscal Note: Funds are available for the refund of the option fee.

And here's the memo City Development Director Brian O'Connell sent to the RDA about the resolution:

DATE: June 3, 2010 

TO: Commissioners, Redevelopment Authority 

FROM: Brian O’Connell, Director 

SUBJECT: Agenda item 10-4655: Request by Karen Sorenson on behalf of Tom Tousis requesting an extension of deadlines for West Racine redevelopment project. 

This item was deferred from the Authority’s meeting of April 7, 2010. 

During the its review of the request, staff became aware that the likely assessed value of Mr. Tousis’ development would be less than the value on which the Tax Increment District (TID No. 11) project plan for the redevelopment area was based. The Authority deferred action on the request to provide an opportunity for Mr. Tousis and his representatives and city representatives to explore alternatives for increasing the assessed value on the property. 

City and Mr. Tousis’ representatives met twice during the following weeks and exchanged information between the meetings. Despite good faith efforts by both parties and a serious review of alternatives, we were unable to reach a mutually acceptable solution. Therefore, I am recommending that the Authority not grant the requested extension. 

In recognition of the good faith efforts by both parties and the mutual desire not to incur additional costs related to the proposal, I am also recommending that Mr. Tousis’ option fee of $5,000 be refunded to him. 

I have prepared a resolution for the Authority that will accomplish these recommendations. (See attachment.) 

If you have any questions about this item prior to your meeting on June 10th, feel free to call me at 636 – 9478.

Mayor to unveil new sidewalks at First Friday

Mayor John Dickert will unveil a new rubber sidewalk Friday that's expect to save money, protect the environment and increase safety. 

The walkway, or Terrewalks, is manufactured by Rubbersidewalks, Inc. Dickert has previously said he hopes to lure the Fountain City, Calif.-based company to Racine. The city already has purchased a $46,000 rubber walkway from the company for North Beach. 

Here's the full press release: 

Mayor to Unveil New Innovative Sidewalk System

RACINE – Mayor John Dickert will announce on Friday that Racine is the first city in Wisconsin to install a new sidewalk system that has the benefits of increased safety, reduced emissions, and long-term cost savings. 

Approximately 1,200 square feet of the new system will be introduced to the media and public during a 5 p.m. press conference held in Crosswalk Park – 317 Main Street, site of the new sidewalks. The press conference will help kick off this month’s Downtown Racine Corporation’s First Friday event. 

“The benefits will be immediate,” said Mayor Dickert. “We expect to see a marked decline in uplifted and broken concrete in Crosswalk Park. Visitors to our downtown area now have a safe and attractive walkway. We are already looking at other possible areas to install Terrewalks.” 

By taking this innovative approach City of Racine officials will be overcoming several environmental problems by replacing concrete pavement with Terrewalks, a product of Rubbersidewalks, Inc., which utilize recycled tires to create the sidewalks. 

“The cost savings is in the longevity of the product,” said Dan Joyce, Vice President for Rubbersidewalks. “Within 3-6 years of initial investment cities will break even on Terrewalks and in 10 years they will be saving money and resources. Above all, the City of Racine will save over the 20-year life cycle of the product in sidewalk durability, performance, and reduced injury-based lawsuits.” 

The system is also designed to protect tree roots, prolong the life of trees, allow maximum storm water capture, and provide public safety.

Blind Alligator hearing is tonight

Local bar The Blind Alligator, 1655 Taylor Ave., will fight for its liquor license tonight during a hearing before the Public Safety and Licensing Committee.

The Racine City Council voted in February to try and take the bar's license to sell alcohol. Police made 144 calls to the bar over an 18-month period and the health department reported several sanitation violations on the premises.

The council's Public Safety and Licensing Committee is scheduled to hold a due process hearing that is, essentially, a trial with The Blind Alligator as defendant and the committee as the jury.

Following the hearing, the committee will deliberate in closed session and then meet in open session to create the necessary report.

Committee members include: Chairman Aron Wisneski, Alderman David Maack, Alderman
Jim Kaplan, Alderman Robert Mozol and Alderman Eric Marcus. 

The hearing is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Prairie student's video competing for $15,000

The Prairie School's David Sanchez is making another run at a national competition. This time he's showing off his artistic side.

Sanchez, 18, first came into the public's eye in 2008 when he competed, and won, a $10,000 grant from Best Buy  to create Job-Link Racine, a job-finding service for at-risk teenagers and the homeless. Sanchez was featured on the cover of last Sunday's Parade magazine with movie star Matthew McConaughey.

Now, he's competing in a movie competition at Talenthouse.com to win $15,000 in prizes, including new video equipment. Sanchez created a video for the band Era's new song, "Ameno." (See the video above.)

You can help Sanchez win the competition by voting for his video, and by sharing the video through Facebook, Twitter or any other social networks. He's currently in the Top 20 and was in first place with 36 hours to go before the Friday at noon deadline.

You can vote for Sanchez by texting "7G7KX2" to 53295. You're allowed one vote per mobile phone.

Update: Here's a message from David, who is planning to study at Vanderbilt next fall ...

I am interested in pursuing film in college and entered a video contest to win professional film equipment. I made a music video to the song Ameno by Era, in which I show a soccer team in training work together as a team. You can see my entry here http://www.talenthouse.com/creativeinvites/preview/dsanchez911/113. It has come down to a TEXTING VOTE. It's very easy, very fast, and completely free to vote, just TEXT 7G7KX2 to 53295 from your cell phone.

Although it is only one vote per phone, please spread the word to others. Winning this competition could be life-changing.

Mayor criticizes Racine police for parking squad cars out of sight

A police officer parked near the Pershing Park boat launch.

Mayor John Dickert criticized city police officers for parking their squad cars out of the public's sight while on active duty, according to city records.

Dickert wrote an email to Police Chief Kurt Wahlen on Feb. 4 saying he had received complaints from city residents about officers parking in out-of-the-way areas. He and City Administrator Tom Friedel also had a conversation with Deputy Chief David Smetana in January on the same issue, and at least one conversation prior to that.

"As I have said in the past and will continue to reinforce; we have an increase in street crimes and burglaries lately, for officers to take a break or do their reports in areas that make taxpayers feel like they are hiding is unacceptable," Dickert wrote to Wahlen.

RacinePost obtained the mayor's memo, along with emails from Wahlen and Smetana, with an open records request, which was promptly answered by the city.

In his email, Dickert cited three complaints he had received about officers.

One was a text from a taxpayer about two officers parked in Rooney Pugh Park at the end of Riechert Court.  The second involved two police cars parked at Washington Park Golf Course behind trees and the third was from city staff telling him about officers parked under the viaduct next to City Hall.

"I cannot begin to tell you how much respect I have for the officers, but it is issues like this that I cannot defend," Dickert wrote. "If they have to do work or talk, please remind them to do it in public. It is often the mere presence of the officers that keep people in line and make them feel more comfortable."

Wahlen responded to Dickert by saying his concerns would be read to the entire police department. He added that without more specifics, such as a squad car number or the time of day, it was difficult to investigate the residents' complaints.

"It is important to remember that we cannot really judge the officers without finding out the details," Wahlen wrote to Dickert on Feb. 4.

Smetana wrote to the police department's shift commanders on Jan. 11 about conversations he had with Dickert and Friedel about officers parking out of the public's eye.

"I have once again been approached by the City Administrator and Mayor in regards to seeing marked squads tucked away in obscure locations," he wrote.

Sgt. Martin Pavilonis, a spokesman for the Racine Police Department, said on-duty officers typically park their squads in out-the-way locations for safety while doing paperwork, planning strategy, or taking breaks.

Officers spend most of their shift on the road working out of their car, he said.

"Their office is their squad car," Pavilonis said.

Safety is an important consideration when officers park their cars for breaks or to write paperwork. Parking in vacant lots or off the roadway helps officers spot anyone who approaches their car while they're distracted writing up reports, Pavilonis said.

"It's hard to sneak up on them if they're out in the open," he said.

He added it's hard to judge what officers are doing in parked cars. They may be writing reports, watching a crime trouble spot or rounding up high school truants. Officers also may be taking a break or just talking to another officer, similar to co-workers in any office. The only difference is police are in the public's eye, Pavilonis said. 

"We don't see inside of City Hall offices," he said. 

Pavilonis said officers did not get upset when Dickert's letter was read to them during patrol shift meetings. They took the memo under advisement, he said. 

"Chief is the chief of police," Pavilonis said. "If it's his directive, then that's how it is."

Here is the full text of Mayor Dickert's memo to Chief Wahlen (reprinted exactly as original): 

From: Dickert, John

Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 11:45 a.m.

To: Wahlen, Kurt

Cc: Friedel, Thomas

Subject: PArking vehicles

Kurt, I have had numerous calls and text messages from constituents from residents regarding our officers parking in areas that make them look as if they are hiding from the public. 

1. A text from a taxpayer that two officers were parked in Rooney Pugh park at the end of Reichert Court.

2. Two cars were parked in the Washington park Golf course parking lot behind trees and talking. 

3. Staff contacting me about officers parked under the viaduct in the lower parking lot next to city hall! 

As I have said in the past and will continue to reinforce; we have an increase in street crimes and burglaries lately, for officers to take a break or do their reports in areas that make taxpayers feel like they are hiding is unacceptable. 

I cannot begin to tell you how much respect I have for the officers, but it is issues like this that I cannot defend. If they have to do work or talk, please remind them to do it in public. It is often the mere presence of the officers that keep people in line and make them feel more comfortable.  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call. These are only three of a number of calls I have been receiving since I started. Please see that the officers understand the important positive role they play in our city. 

John Dickert

Mayor of Racine

730 Washington Ave. 

Racine, WI 53403

(262) 636-9111

Chief Wahlen's response:

From: Wahlen, Kurt

Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 3:40 PM

To: Dickert, John

Cc: Friedel, Thomas; Smetana, David

Subject: RE: PArking vehicles

Mayor: Your e-mail will be read in its entirety to every sworn member of this police department and the directive about remaining in plain view will be reiterated and enforced. However, it is difficult for me to dress down the troops on general complaints when I do not know any particulars other than a vehicle was, at some point, at a particular location. After all, it is possible that the officers could be at a particular location for good reason - such as chasing truants below Park High School. Without knowing the squad number and the time of day, we cannot follow-up on these complaints. Further, if they are on the dinner break, they have the right to be most anywhere enjoying a few quiet minutes with a sandwich. 

I request that you please forward complaints concerning police performance to the department, or send these parties to the Department's website. I have the complaint forms there posted in both Spanish and English. We will follow-up on all of them. Those contacting you could phone the Shift Commander, D/C Smetana or even me directly. Phoned in complaints will be followed up as well. 

Again, it is important to remember that we cannot really judge the officers without finding out the details. We do have GPS information we could possibly use to research any complaint if we were given a few details; squad number, date, time and location. We did use this GPS information to force one member of this department to resign recently. 

Over all, the members of this department have been doing a great job. Crime is down significantly. We caught two burglars on day shift quite recently after they broke into a house near Lathrop and Washington Ave. These offenders were plaguing residences in Racine as well as in Kenosha. 

Kurt 

Email from Deputy Chief David Smetana to shift commanders:

From: Smetana, David

Sent: Monday, January 11, 2010 2:20 PM

To: Polzin, Michael; Purdy, Robert; Lopez, Carlos; Esch, Mark; 

Cc: Wahlen, Kurt

Subject: 10-84 locations 

Gentlemen, 

I have once again been approached by the City Administrator and Mayor in regards to seeing marked squads tucked away in obscure locations. One of the locations mentioned specifically was across from Three Door during the early morning hours, let your officers know that any measures they could take to be more visible during paperwork or 84 transactions would be much appreciated. The officer's visibility lends to the general public's perceptions about them and their activity. Meeting while turning in paper work or other meetings between officers near busy intersections or problems areas may assist in the public's perceptions about police coverage in the City. One suggestion is to have supervisors name more visible locations when calling for and collecting paperwork. 

Feel free to put your own spin on this to the officers you command, I am very proud of the Patrol Division and the job they do. Do not pass this on as an indictment of those efforts. 

Dave

Dickert fundraiser is June 8

A fundraiser for Mayor John Dickert will be held Tuesday, June 8th at the home of Doug and Sara Nicholson. 

The fundraiser will take place as the Brewers take on the Chicago Cubs. Tailgate will run from 5:30-7:10 p.m. and the fundraiser will last throughout the game.

Additional hosts include: Gus Antonneau, Dave Brown, Jeff Hoey, Jeff McKeown, Doug Nicholson, Mark Patzke, Chuck Christofferson, John Crimmings, Herb Katt, John Kopulos, Ian Lang, Tom Marini, Chad Novasic, Eric Petersen, Jennifer Thoennes and Eric and Lisa Olesen.

The minimum donation is $25. If you'd like to attend, RSVP to Mark Patzke at: mpatzke@multiproducts.com

Wild Ones teaches gardeners to go native

Volunteers pull garlic mustard from Evans Park in the Town of Yorkville. 

Just east of I-94 along Highway 20 you'll spot Evans Park, a 66-acre, county-owned plot of land that's little more than a dirt road loop with a few scattered picnic tables. Staying in your car there's not much to see.

But step off the road and into the woods and there's a wonderland of trees, flowers and mushrooms in all shapes and sizes. The park is home to an impressive collection of native plants that thrive under the forest's canopy. Trillium, baneberry and "spring beauty's" were all in bloom in the county park in May.

A small group of volunteers met at the park in May to protect the park's vibrant ecosystem by removing a few non-native plants capable of taking over entire forests if left unchecked. These "invasives" were brought to Wisconsin from other areas of the world and flourish here because they lack the natural controls of a native environment.

The group is known as the Root River chapter of Wild Ones, a non-profit organization created to educate the public about invasive species and to organize volunteers to protect native species.

The Root River chapter volunteers in Evans Park ranged from a botany professor at Northwestern University to a first-year volunteer not quite sure what to pull or what to leave. Everyone, regardless of experience, said their work with Wild Ones continually unfolds new levels of understanding the natural world.

Sue Borger, of the Root River chapter of Wild Ones.

They chose Evans Park, which you really will miss if you don't look for it, because it's a well-preserved location for native flowers and plants to thrive. While other areas are consumed with invasive species, Evans Park remains in good shape - at least for now.

The volunteers walked into the forest with trained eyes and spots the looming threat of garlic mustard weed and the dreaded buckthorn.

"When you learn about invasives, it's all you see," said Nan Calvert, head of the Root River Wild Ones.

All together they removed at least a dozen large garbage bags full of invasive species that can only be disposed of by burning.

Volunteers included Calvert, Diane Battisti and Ann Hillman, both of Raymond, Clarence and Karen Kaplan, of Caledonia, Sue and Barry Borger, Professor Cris Russin, of Northwestern University, Carol Beatty, of Kenosha, Debbie Kirchmaier and Ed Raymond.

The group was concentrating on garlic mustard in Evans Park. The plant aggressively takes over space from native species and makes the surrounding soil toxic for other species.

They also brought in a saw to hack out buckthorn, which is a particularly nasty tree because it creates a mid-level canopy in a forest that chokes out ground-level plants, including most native flowers. Whole forests in the state are being taken over by buckthorn, which is spread through berries that are a diuretic to birds. As the birds fly they poop buckthorn seeds along the way and the species spreads.

This freshly fallen tree was one of many remarkable sights in Evans Park. 

Wild Ones is holding its Native Plant Sale from 9am to 3pm Saturday at the Kenosha County Center at the corner of highways 50 and 45 in Bristol (click here for a map). The sale includes more than 5,000 native Wisconsin plants. Every plant for sale will have a picture with details about the plants.

Popular items at the sale include pre-assembled collections of plants designed specifically to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to gardens.

Profits benefit the group and other like-minded organizations.

Even with the down economy, the group expects the sale to do well.

"We were nervous last year, but people still felt (native plants) were important to spend money on," Calvert said. "Little by little, people who garden realize they can have a big impact."

One easy thing they can do: avoid invasive species for sale at local greenhouses. Plants like pachysandra, vinca vines and Japanese barberry are aggressive plants that will dominate native species and takeover large areas.

If you're not sure if a plant is invasive, checkout the DNR's  2010 guide to Invasive Species. Or, learn first hand by attending the Wild Ones' Plant Sale this Saturday in Bristol.

The Wild Ones Native Plant sale is Saturday from 9am to 3pm at the Kenosha County Center located near the intersection of highways 45 and 50 in Bristol. 

Professor Cris Russin, of Northwestern University

Nan Calvert (middle) and other Wild Ones volunteers.

Video: Mayor Dickert stopped for speeding in December

Video of Mayor John Dickert's traffic stop on Dec. 12, 2009 on N. Main St. 
Video provided by Racine Police Department.

A city police officer stopped Mayor John Dickert for speeding Dec. 12, 2009 in the 1200 block of North Main Street. Dickert was going 40 mph in a 30 mph zone at about 10 a.m. on a Saturday. He did not receive a ticket. There is no police report on the stop.

Video of the traffic stop, obtained with a records request to the police department, shows a brief, cordial encounter between Officer Bob Bojcic and Dickert near Jane Elementary School. Bojcic was conducting a speed wave near the school after the department received complaints about traffic.

Here'a transcript of the video:

Prior to exiting squad car: 

Officer Bojcic: 1200 block of North Main (indecipherable)

Talking to Dickert:  

Dickert: Hello, boss.
Officer: (indecipherable) You're the boss, aren't you?
Dickert: (laughs) Not always
Officer: Not always?
Dickert: What's going on?
Officer: Not much. We had a Speed Wave back here 40 in 30
Dickert: Oh (indecipherable) Sorry ... I was going to a radio show down in Kenosha
Officer: Yeah. Because of the school over there and the crossing guard always has fits over there so we come out here to do a speed wave out here to try and slow the traffic down it's like a race track out here, you know?
Dickert: It's actually a good idea.
Officer: Keep it down.
Dickert: You got it.

Sgt. Martin Pavilonis, spokesman for the Racine Police Department who had watched the video, said proper procedures were handled during the stop.

It's up to the officer's discretion on whether a driver gets a ticket, Pavilonis said. He said it was not unusual for a stop to take about 3 minutes when the officer does not issue a ticket.

There is no set policy on an officer's actions when they pull over an elected official like the mayor, Pavilonis said. If a police officer stops another police officer there is a policy to follow, he said, but that doesn't apply to the mayor.

As for the mayor's conduct, Pavilonis said he acted appropriately. "I don't think he asserted his rank as mayor," he said. "I don't think that's the case at all."

RacinePost requested video of the traffic stop after receiving a tip that the mayor was stopped. The city promptly answered a records request and provided a DVD of the stop from an in-squad video camera with audio collected from a microphone officers carry as part of their uniform.