By Heather Asiyanbi
In order for Mount Pleasant to get busy on its new municipal campus just northeast of Highway 20 and 90th Street, the latter avenue has to be expanded.
According to both Village Administrator Mike Andreasen and Engineer Jeff Sykes of Crispell Snyder, the $1 million road project, while a separate project, is the first step to developing the 90th Street property for the municipal campus.
Because the road is located within a tax incremental financing district (TID), those special funds are available to fund the cost.
The goal is to eventually connect 90th street so it runs continuously from Spring Street to Highway KR, though that depends on getting right-of-way from Heartland Village at the north end of the street. Heartland Village is the developer of a community of Arts & Crafts style homes along Old Spring Street near Highway H. 90th Street currently ends a few hundred feet north of Highway 20.
"This is a major north-south arterial," Sykes pointed out. "It could serve as a nice alternative to taking Highway 31, which can be very congested at certain times of the day, or Highway H as it runs through the Renaissance Business Park."
Infrastructure like water, stormwater, sewer - anything that involves a service pipe - is expected to complete by mid-November. The goal is to have at least a gravel road in by winter for access to the new village hall site. Construction on that new building is expected to begin in the spring with possibly completion by the end of 2010 or very early in 2011. The current village hall property at the corner of Highways 11 and 31 is for sale.
Showing posts with label Heather Asiyanbi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heather Asiyanbi. Show all posts
August 14, 2009
July 8, 2009
Sturtevant saves money by not filling some positions
By Heather Asiyanbi
It's no secret that the tumultuous economic climate is taking its toll on smaller communities when it comes to delivering services. Revenues from building permits have slowed to a trickle; state revenue sharing is being drastically reduced; and state statutes limiting the amount municipalities can collect from property owners mean the struggle to maintain the status quo is even more difficult.
In Sturtevant, the village board and Mark Janiuk, village administrator, are working to save money by not filling a few positions and folding those duties into other departments.
Fred Kobylinski served as the village's building inspector until last May. He made approximately $54,000 a year with $20,000 in benefits like health insurance and paid vacation. The village won't comment on the reasons behind his dismissal beyond saying that as an at-will employee, Kobylinski could be terminated without cause. For now, building inspector duties are being contracted out to the Village of Mount Pleasant on a temporary basis.
"It's unfortunate that we had to let Fred go," said Village President Steve Jansen. "And even though it is a temporary arrangement with Mount Pleasant, it could be a longer term kind of temporary given the economy."
Under the terms of the agreement, Sturtevant will only pay for the hours the Mount Pleasant inspector actually works.
"This is a considerable savings for Sturtevant and with development down so dramatically, we may not need to fill the position for a while yet," Janiuk said.
Mount Pleasant Village Administrator Mike Andreasen confirmed the arrangement.
"Our two villages work together all the time, and this is just another example of inter-governmental cooperation," he said. "We're saving money for taxpayers in both villages and still delivering a needed service."
The assistant building inspector was also let go earlier this year, saving the village about $27,000 in salary.
Roger Fryberger, former village treasurer, retired last year with a salary of about $54,000 and another $20,000 in benefits. Janiuk confirmed that this position remains vacant and there are no plans to fill it any time soon. Instead, Fryberger's responsibilities are being carried out by Janiuk, the village's accounting clerk, and Mary Hanstad, village clerk.
Additionally, Chuck Stachowski, director of public works, has been called to active duty with the Army Reserves. He leaves later this fall for a tour of Iraq and while he's gone, Janiuk and crew leaders will take over his duties. Stachowski also makes about $54,000 per year with $20,000 in benefits. Janiuk stressed that when Stachowski returns, his job will be waiting for him.
"The economy isn't doing smaller communities like ours any favors," Jansen said. "Our challenge for our residents is to make sure we deliver services they've come to expect and work to save money at the same time."
All told, it's estimated that Sturtevant will save over $200,000 in salaries and benefits through the end of 2010.
Heather Asiyanbi covers Sturtevant, Mount Pleasant and Caledonia for RacinePost. She can be reached at: asiyanbi@wi.rr.com
It's no secret that the tumultuous economic climate is taking its toll on smaller communities when it comes to delivering services. Revenues from building permits have slowed to a trickle; state revenue sharing is being drastically reduced; and state statutes limiting the amount municipalities can collect from property owners mean the struggle to maintain the status quo is even more difficult.
In Sturtevant, the village board and Mark Janiuk, village administrator, are working to save money by not filling a few positions and folding those duties into other departments.
Fred Kobylinski served as the village's building inspector until last May. He made approximately $54,000 a year with $20,000 in benefits like health insurance and paid vacation. The village won't comment on the reasons behind his dismissal beyond saying that as an at-will employee, Kobylinski could be terminated without cause. For now, building inspector duties are being contracted out to the Village of Mount Pleasant on a temporary basis.
"It's unfortunate that we had to let Fred go," said Village President Steve Jansen. "And even though it is a temporary arrangement with Mount Pleasant, it could be a longer term kind of temporary given the economy."
Under the terms of the agreement, Sturtevant will only pay for the hours the Mount Pleasant inspector actually works.
"This is a considerable savings for Sturtevant and with development down so dramatically, we may not need to fill the position for a while yet," Janiuk said.
Mount Pleasant Village Administrator Mike Andreasen confirmed the arrangement.
"Our two villages work together all the time, and this is just another example of inter-governmental cooperation," he said. "We're saving money for taxpayers in both villages and still delivering a needed service."
The assistant building inspector was also let go earlier this year, saving the village about $27,000 in salary.
Roger Fryberger, former village treasurer, retired last year with a salary of about $54,000 and another $20,000 in benefits. Janiuk confirmed that this position remains vacant and there are no plans to fill it any time soon. Instead, Fryberger's responsibilities are being carried out by Janiuk, the village's accounting clerk, and Mary Hanstad, village clerk.
Additionally, Chuck Stachowski, director of public works, has been called to active duty with the Army Reserves. He leaves later this fall for a tour of Iraq and while he's gone, Janiuk and crew leaders will take over his duties. Stachowski also makes about $54,000 per year with $20,000 in benefits. Janiuk stressed that when Stachowski returns, his job will be waiting for him.
"The economy isn't doing smaller communities like ours any favors," Jansen said. "Our challenge for our residents is to make sure we deliver services they've come to expect and work to save money at the same time."
All told, it's estimated that Sturtevant will save over $200,000 in salaries and benefits through the end of 2010.
Heather Asiyanbi covers Sturtevant, Mount Pleasant and Caledonia for RacinePost. She can be reached at: asiyanbi@wi.rr.com
July 1, 2009
Sturtevant rallies to save its fireworks show
Friday's fireworksUpdate: Thousands of people attended Sturtevant's fireworks on Friday night, lining up as far away as Durand Avenue to watch the show. Here are pictures from the dramatic display.
By Heather Asiyanbi
Annual fireworks displays to mark the 4th of July are as American as backyard barbeque. Thanks to a group of enterprising citizens and two village board members, Sturtevant will maintain tradition and light up the sky once again.
Friday's fireworksStarting at 5 p.m. Friday, everyone is invited to Firemen's Park behind village hall for the festivities. Live music from Just East of You opens the party followed by two, 90-minute sets from Positive Feedback, one each before and after the fireworks. The main event is set to begin at dusk, probably around 9:15, and last from 30 to 40 minutes.
Like other cities and villages across the state, Sturtevant has had to tighten its belt, cutting anything not deemed necessary to the health and safety of village residents. The fireworks fell victim to the trimming, but board members Daryl Lynaugh and Linda Busha, with the support of Village President Steve Jansen and the other trustees, felt the fireworks were too important to not try and save them.
"We need to have an event that brings the community together," Lynaugh said. "Things are depressing enough right now with the economy. We need this because it means something for the quality of life in Sturtevant."
Friday's fireworksThe total cost of the annual fireworks runs approximately $17,000. The committee, made up of Lynaugh, Busha and seven residents, has managed to raise just over $10,000 so far. They are counting on beer and food sales, as well as a $5 per car parking charge, to bring in the balance.
"It's not cheap to put this on every year," committee member Gary Bublitz pointed out. "Residents enjoy it because it's free, but it's not free for the village." People also expect it, he went on to say, and for the most part, were more than willing to give when they were told the fireworks wouldn't happen if people didn't pull together to make it happen.
"We've built our bank based on lots of smaller donations instead of bigger blocks of money from just a few people," Bublitz confirmed.
Friday's fireworksAccording to Jansen, the village has been looking for ways to take the fireworks off the budget for a number of years while the board struggles every year to keep taxes at a minimum and service levels high.
"I'm really proud of this citizen group," Jansen said. "They've really worked hard to pull people together to make sure we still have a great community event to attend."
Friday's fireworksBusha agreed. "It's important to keep things like this in our community. It brings people together for a good time and helps forge connections so neighbors can get to know one another and help out when and if times get hard."
The 2010 budget is already shaping up to be even more lean, Jansen added, and residents should expect to come together in the same way next year if they want fireworks.
"The Sturtevant fireworks are a long-time tradition," Busha noted. "Even in hard times, it needs to happen. People can come out and have a good time for no or low cost."
Friday's fireworksSurprisingly, committee members say they didn't run across anyone who didn't care if the fireworks stay or go and the money raised backs up their claim.
"There are more people who don't want to see the village fireworks disappear than who don't care either way," Busha said. "We're hoping this new way of funding the 4th of July celebration can become a tradition with the same kind of the support the fireworks have always enjoyed."
Friday will also be declared Hank Johnson Day. Johnson was a lifelong village resident with a deep commitment to his community. Father of current board member John Johnson, Hank attended nearly every village board and committee meeting, served as a volunteer firefighter and helped organize youth activities over the years. Jansen will present a plaque to the family and a tree has been planted at Firemen's Park in Hank's memory.
If you go: Friday, 5 p.m. at Firemen's Park, 2801 89th Street, Sturtevant; (262) 886-7200. $5 per car parking; admission is free.
Heather Asiyanbi is a veteran journalist who covers Sturtevant, Mount Pleasant and Caledonia for RacinePost. Have a story idea? Contact Heather at: asiyanbi@wi.rr.com
Friday's fireworks
Friday's fireworks
Friday's fireworks
Friday's fireworks
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