Open Honest McCue

I saw on CudahyNow (Plans in works for former Kohl's Food site) that the CDA met in closed session, then came into open session and voted unanimously to approve the financial structure in concept at the Kohl’s Site. 

While that old building is a dump, how much city money is going into the development, and what are the plans?

If Mayor McCue, who ran on an open meetings platform, can't come out and tell the public how potentially taxpayer dollars are going to be used, shouldn't he eat his words?

Why is the CDA always meeting in closed session, and then giving candy away to everyone who walks into the city, except Wal-Mart!

I don’t want to give the store away nor do I think Wal-Mart should get funds, but be fair to the developers and the businesses they bring!  The name on the building should not matter!

I would love to see a comment out of the Mayor, other than, “No Comment”!

A quick check of the new website http://www.cudahy4business.com has the following:

Source Page

Former Kohls Site – The CDA has begun discussions with a business looking at revitalizing the former Kohl's building on KK.  Because real estate negotiations are currently underway, and the CDA does not want to jeopardize these negotiations, the name of the business cannot be disclosed at this time.

From CudahyNow

Plans in works for former Kohl's Food site

The identity of the developer has not been disclosed at this time.

The site at Plankinton and Kinnickinnic avenues is outside the city's tax-incremental finance district, but the project may be eligible for TIF funding because the state now allows TIF funds to be spent within a half-mile of a TIF district.

Tax-incremental financing, or TIF, is a mechanism that allows municipalities to borrow money to fund infrastructure improvements for an area that otherwise would be difficult to develop or redevelop.  The increased property tax revenue from the improved land is then diverted from the tax roll to pay off the loan.

Eberhardy said the allocation of TIF funds are key to getting the proposed project accomplished.

Plans for the vacant site are consistent with the Cudahy 2020 Comprehensive Master Plan, she said.

"Those of us who know about the plans are very excited," she said.

Specifics on the proposal likely will be disclosed next month, she said.

Side Notes Source Page

Cobalt Site - On April 14, 2009 the City of Cudahy Community Development Authority (CDA) voted to stop negotiations with Cobalt Partners and recommended termination of the Memorandum of Understanding.  This matter is expected to appear on an upcoming Common Council agenda.

Downtown Décor – The new banners have been ordered replacing the old tattered ones.  The will be installed for this Summer from Cudahy to Holmes along Packard Avenue.  The flower baskets are expected to be installed at the end of May but no later than the first week of June. 

By -  JTozz

Here is another story of sister city St Francis using TIF money the correct way.  Is there a way to obtain what projects and expenses Cudahy TIF money has been spent on? 

There has to be something that Mayor McCue is proud of that he has done for the city.  I'd like to hear or read what he has to say.  All that I can figure out is that he apparently was responsible for City Lounge and the new Library (from viewing the This Is Cudahy video located on CudahyNow.com home page). 

Is this true?  If so, build upon these and lay out a plan that corporate and retail developers can understand and buy into.

I’m really just amazed at the lack of information that comes from this local government.  Perhaps its time that Cudahy ceded itself to Milwaukee County.  Or St. Francis?

Vacant warehouse at new brew pub eyed for development

Stage, skate facility, 'zoo' possible Village Square uses

By CHANTEL BALZELL

Posted: Apr. 7, 2009 7:00 p.m.

An abandoned warehouse next to the just-opened St. Francis Brewery and Restaurant may soon be converted into a $3 million retail development called Lakeside Village Square.

City officials and the Community Development Authority are reviewing cost estimates and tax revenue projections to determine how much the development might receive in tax-incremental financing.

The proposed warehouse conversion near the northwest corner of Kinnickinnic and Howard avenues would be the second phase of development for the site. The first-phase brew pub opened this week.

Tax-incremental financing, or TIF, is a mechanism that allows municipalities to borrow money to fund infrastructure improvements for an area that otherwise would be difficult to develop or redevelop. The increased property tax revenue from the improved land is then diverted from the tax roll to pay off the loan.

The warehouse property is currently assessed at $317,400.

The development is projected to generate about $60,000 in tax revenue per year, according to a document from Rick Michalski, managing member of Lakeside Village Square and Cupol, the operating firm for the brew pub.

City Administrator Ralph Voltner and Mayor Al Richards have talked about presenting Lakeside Village Square with a check for at least half of whatever tax increment is generated over a five-year period.

Michalski is seeking about $360,000 in TIF funding, the projected value of the tax increment over a seven-year period, according to his estimates.

Completion timetable

A provision requiring completion of the project within a certain time frame could also be added into the agreement, Voltner said.

"The brew pub and this building, if completed anywhere near what that picture looks like, would certainly encourage the rest of the street to remake itself," he said.

Earlier this year, the Common Council rejected a request to allocate $35,000 in TIF funds for the $2.4 million St. Francis Brewery and Restaurant because Michalski purchased the site from the city for $1 in exchange for him purchasing the abandoned warehouse for $325,000.

Development urged

Some council members said they would be more willing to approve TIF funding once Michalski and his partners proceed with the second phase of development.

If funding is secured, Michalski said construction would hopefully begin this summer.

"Right now, the brewery is supporting the entire development," Michalski said. "So the quicker we can get this done and get tenants in to help support with the costs, the better."

Possible uses include "a special care pharmacy" on the second floor, Michalski said.

A theatrical group has expressed interest in the building along with a group looking to construct a skateboard facility, Michalski said.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison has discussed adding an agricultural department similar to a "zoo" where visitors could see the process of raising seafood from water to market, he said.

To accommodate the project, the city would expand the right-hand turn lane along Kinnickinnic Avenue, City Engineer Melinda Dejewski said. An entrance would also be created along Howard Avenue.

Attention – Two posts today!!!!!

One of my major issues with Cudahy’s local government with Mayor McCue at the forefront is lack of communication and transparency.

While at a meeting at City Hall, someone came up to me and said, “There is a plan to have TIF money used to remodel City Hall.

It would include utilities (phone, network, Internet, electric) to be charged back to the TIF and the office space to be rented from City Hall and charged to the TIF.

How can TIF money be used to fix up and remodel City Hall for the Director of Economic Development’s office at City Hall if the .5 mile outside the TIF allowed is exceeded at City Hall?”

So in a nutshell, I asked the basic question to the Cudahy elected officials:

“How can TIF money be used to fix up and remodel City Hall for the Director of Economic Development’s office at City Hall if the .5 mile outside the TIF allowed is exceeded at City Hall?”

I did so after another person said that yes, there was a plan out there from which they understood was the office could have been remodeled and the utilities and office space could have been rented to the TIF district.

I found out that plan was not agreed upon and never acted on.  That it was a plan that was just out there for discussion.

There was “NO” TIF money used on building the office for the Economic Development

Director (Lara Fritts).  Instead, the Mayor asked that the money be taken out of Mary Jo Lange's

(DPW) budget.

TIF Money was proposed but not approved for the City Hall office remodel.  Those expenditures will hit the 2009 General Fund Budget. 

One person did say they did hear about the renting but, they haven't seen anything to confirm that from Ehlers nor the city’s Auditors. 

If the question is: Can the city expense 2009 utilities for Ms. Fritts’s office to TIF?  Their answer would be, “Maybe.”

It wouldn't be rent but rather a journal entry.  If the city can and wanted to do this, they would need to make a journal entry by end of this year.

Mr. Williamson, the comptroller, has ultimate control which fund expenses go under.  But the Common Council has not given direction to use funds in this matter.  It also wasn't included in the Director Economic Developer's Budget (which I posted).

I was told that Ms. Fritts's salary is considered an administrative cost for TIF.  Expenses for her office possibly could be considered under the same administrative cost guidelines.  This something that was considered, but the Council didn't approve.

The state has strict guidelines for TIF funds.  The city is audited each year including TIF.

So bottom lining this:

The answer is "No"; the Common Council has not authorized the use of TIF for the office remodel.

The answer is "No"; the Common Council has not authorized the use of TIF for Ms. Fritts’s office utility expenses.

So until the Council takes some other action, the answer is "No".  I'm also not aware of any plans to take any action.

Any changes in the future would require Council Approval.

I, as others, was and am not a supporter of taking the money out of the DPW budget.  Taking away from the DPW that provides service, to fund an office remodel, takes away from the citizens, who utilize their services. 

I would have liked the office that in the past with Jack Vaccaro at the People’s Credit Union used.  A space that Paul Burkhardt and the Cudahy Chamber of Commerce in the past have allowed to be used for free.

It was my understanding that the Chamber didn't offer and the city didn't ask to use it.  Partly because the Mayor would be working hand and hand with Ms. Fritts and there were concerns of driving back and forth.  Insurance and weather conditions, I was told played a factor. 

Well with NO City use vehicle policy in place, I would be scared as well.

So where did this all come from in the first place?  Was it a rumor or did it have a bases of truth.  Well go back to December of 2008

The Cudahy Common Council, under the leadership of Mayor Ryan McCue, just spent $150,000 on renovations of city hall, and now I see this on the Dec 16th council agenda.

“Discussion and appropriate action regarding creation of office space for the new director of economic development, not to exceed $7,500, 80% paid by TIF, 20% from reserves.”

So, if the City of Cudahy would spend a little bit of the time and effort they are giving to the new Economic Development Director Lara Fritts’s website http://www.cudahy4business.com/ on the City website all of the TIF/TID information would be online for anyone to peruse and find the answers we so desperately need and deserve.

It comes to a head that Mayor McCue just doesn’t care if the City website is updated and the people are informed.  He must want us to be that way for a reason!  WHY????

BTW, Lara Fritts is using the same web person that the city used and wanted to keep using until we entered into a pact with the Milwaukee County tech people.  So why is she not using them and when is the City’s website going to be updated?

More on the City’s website this weekend!

SoccerNut was correct.  The Director Economic Developer exact budget for 2009 is $348,734.

Please see the detailed two pages for a breakdown of the cost.  Please notice that on page two we are paying for retirement and life insurance on the TWO so called "needed" interns.  What are they going to do?

Also, remember that the Iceport TID is where the money for the Director Economic Lara Fritts salary is coming from.  So, if it doesn’t get developed this year, WE will foot the bill not the TID.

Here is Lara Fritts’s email address for those that may want it.

frittsl@CI.CUDAHY.WI.US

Just how much will the taxpayers, US, keep paying?  The city has US, the taxpayers, picking up the tab on taking down the Iceport structure, paying for the fence around the Iceport, cleanup of the contaminated land, and I am sure the creek that already was cleaned up, now has run off from the Iceport land, will have to be cleaned up by the taxpayers, of course. 

We have yet to get the bill for the redo of Mayor McCue’s glass room, sorry, City Hall remodeling!

I cut myself on Sunday and my blood was red not green! 

I find it odd that “NO” goals are being set for Lara Fritts. 

Whose responsibility would that have been?  Maybe instead of puppy shopping, the Mayor should spend more time actually working on the things he should be doing.  Mayor McCue, if you wish to spend most of your time at home, please quit your Mayor’s job!  We should all find it unacceptable to hand in an unfinished assignment!  Incompletes are just as bad as failures.

How will Lara Fritts, the city, and us know if she is meeting expectations or not with no goals?  She only has a one-year contract.  She reports directly to the Mayor.  So does that mean that the goals are known to the Mayor or will it be whatever he feels like it should be? 

I think that is unfair for both Lara Fritts and us!

I am including an excellent public forum letter to the editor that fits right in.

Economic development, high taxes don't mix

Posted: Feb. 17, 2009

Public Forum:

I must compliment the city of Cudahy for creating a brand new position, economic development director, at taxpayers' expense.  However, one must question whether throwing out more of the taxpayers' money is the best answer in light of the large price hikes that many business property owners experienced in 2008.

As a resident of a single-family dwelling, I was shocked at the huge increase in property taxes - approximately 20 percent - simply because the land my homes sits on is in a business district.

The property next to mine was once a business; today it remains unoccupied and for sale.

I certainly don't have the extensive education as the newly installed economic development director has, nor do I have a salary of $80,000 annually.  However, I do know that extensive economic development can never happen as long as the city of Cudahy extensively raises property taxes for land located in the business area.

Thomas V. Brunner

http://www.cudahynow.com/news/39749577.html

"Creeds must disagree: it is the whole fun of the thing.  If I think the universe is triangular, and you think it is square, there cannot be room for two universes.  We may argue politely, we may argue humanely, we may argue with great mutual benefit; but, obviously, we must argue.  Modern toleration is really a tyranny.  It is a tyranny because it is a silence.  To say that I must not deny my opponent's faith is to say I must not discuss it . . . It is absurd to have a discussion on Comparative Religions if you don't compare them."

G.K. Chesterton

Would someone like to take a guess as how much the 2009 Cudahy Director Economic Developer Final Budget is?  The first purposed budget was over $900,000 dollars.

I will give you a few days or a week to ponder and guess.  I will give you that it includes the $80,000 for the director’s salary plus two interns each at $14,560.

One small tidbit – The salary is being charged to the TIF district (not sure if all of the budget) and if the TIF is not developed “The People” taxpayers will pickup the cost instead.

While some people give TIF Districts a bad rap, they do have their place and need.  It drives businesses to build in a place that they might not look at.

Many people talk that Portland, Oregon is built up because of light and commuter rail.  That is not the truth whole truth.  Over 2 Billion dollars in TIF money was doled out before the rail was done and popular.

Hartland, WI

Hartland TIF district approved

A new tax incremental financing (TIF) district covering all of downtown Hartland and some of the surrounding area was approved by the Village Board on Monday and a Joint Review Board on Tuesday.

Source and Story

Over in West Allis the old Yellow Freight trucking terminal is being looked at to be setup in a TIF.

Source and Story

From West Allis Now, “City officials believe the property, currently 90 percent asphalt, could be better used than as a truck terminal and is looking to develop it as a light-industrial use.  Officials are in negotiations with Yellow Freight to purchase the property, next to Greenfield Park.”

Roadrunner Transportation Services is looking for a new terminal outside of Cudahy when they combine the old Roadrunner Freight Systems and old Dawes Transport terminals in one building. It has been confirmed to Chantel of Cudahy Now that the terminal is looking to move.  At the time, Chantel was told the headquarters will stay in Cudahy, but common sense tells me otherwise.  This is the same company that just went public stating it has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering and is the company that posted $575 million in revenue last year.  Source  Many of those jobs will be leaving Cudahy.  I don’t think the Mayor has even talked to them about staying.  Anyways, that will be more land for the city to grab (I don’t think the Mayor likes the trucks either) and develop.

TIF districts, when used properly and in the right places, are a valuable tool to spur development and there is a good reason the city chooses the location over another. 

While it is no surprise that they are moving it is still sad to see them and the jobs go.  Many of us cling to hopes they would stay, but they did state they wanted neutral ground and so we are losing them.  Better in Chicago then Dallas for Milwaukee.

I read the report in the Milwaukee Journal and saw the reports on TV and in the end, I think MONEY did play a part.

Congratulations to Chicago on landing MillerCoors.  Here are two stories one from Chicago Tribune and another from the Denver Post on their take.  Please read the full version, I pulled out some highlights.

Chicago Tribune

Beer tab too high for jobs?

MillerCoors gets $20 million in aid to bring 300-400 HQ jobs to Chicago

In the sweepstakes for landing corporate headquarters, Chicago won one Tuesday when a joint venture of two of the biggest U.S. beer operations announced it will call the city home.

Landing MillerCoors will add 300 to 400 jobs, a tiny number for an economy the size of Chicago's, economic development experts say.  Still, it's a symbolic victory for a city that values its identity as a business crossroads yet has witnessed an exodus of famous names over the past decade through corporate restructurings, among them Amoco, Ameritech and First Chicago.  Chicago's also won some contests, wooing such companies as Boeing from Seattle and United Airlines from the suburbs.

The company chose Chicago because it will have "access to an attractive base of talent, transportation and business resources," MillerCoors President Tom Long said in a statement, adding the company was "grateful" for Illinois' "support."

Merriman agreed winning MillerCoors is a symbolic victory.  "The question is whether the tax breaks are justified. The tax breaks are not symbolic."

The city has offered assistance to MillerCoors in the form of tax-increment financing.  The exact amount hasn't been determined, but Rita Athas, executive director of World Business Chicago, the city's economic development office, said it would likely be $2.5 million to $5 million.

The city has given similar TIF subsidies to other corporate relocations.  But such incentive packages have been criticized because TIFs were set up to fix blighted areas.

Illinois has lined up an $18 million assistance package, primarily involving income tax rebates.

Full Story

The Denver Post

Colorado gets canned for MillerCoors' HQ

MillerCoors has selected Chicago as its headquarters site, rebuffing pleas from metro Denver and Milwaukee to locate the lead corporate office in the historic homes of Coors and Miller beer.

In a consolation prize of sorts, the Coors brewery in Golden will get a $100 million capital infusion to update its brewing and packaging equipment.

The investment will enable the brewery to make both Coors and Miller brands — a key component of the recently completed merger of Coors' and Miller's U.S. operations.

The state of Illinois offered MillerCoors an $18 million incentive package, most of it from corporate income tax credits based on job creation over the next 15 years.

The city of Chicago also agreed to provide a financing package of undisclosed value that will provide tax breaks to MillerCoors if it locates the headquarters in an area targeted for economic development.

The office will be in the downtown area, Kiely said, but a site hasn't been selected.  Leased office space, new construction or purchase of an existing building are all under consideration, MillerCoors officials said.  The company hopes to open the headquarters by mid-2009.

Full Story

What is the Milwaukee Wave Premier Training Academy?
Continental Properties Company, Inc. and the Wave are partnering on an innovative soccer training academy and multi-use facility as part of the Cudahy Station development in Cudahy.

The Premier Training Academy will provide a local, regional and national attraction for serious soccer players of all ages.  Under the direction of Michael King, the Wave’s all-time leading scorer, the academy’s curriculum will be aimed at improving ball skills, technical development, fitness, mental strength and nutrition in a personalized, focused environment.

The game emphasizes technical play — ball skills — and quick decision-making.  Those elements transfer well to the outdoor game.
Yet the need for a limited amount of space makes it an ideal game in climates where year-round outdoor training is not feasible.

What is the benefit to the citizens of Cudahy?
The benefits are two-fold.  First, the Premier Training Academy will be a destination for people throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois.  While players train, their families will be able to shop, eat and even stay in Cudahy Station, keeping dollars in the community and bringing additional money, and exposure, to the city.
Second, the facility will give Cudahy the opportunity to develop community programs. The Wave appreciates the responsibility attached to a TIF project and looks forward to partnering with the citizens of Cudahy to support the programs they see as most in need of a great facility.

Will you bring tournaments to the Premier Training Academy?
With four futsal courts and access to nearly 100,000 youth players in a 100-mile radius, this facility would certainly be attractive for tournament play.  Though leagues are not in our plans, some tournament play is in consideration, while always keeping our training emphasis No. 1.

Are you sure this facility will get enough use?
It's the least of our worries.  Most teams train in school gyms or wherever they can find an empty indoor space, and all of them are looking for a quality place to develop players. We will start by training players of all ages, from beginners to serious high school and college players looking for an edge in earning scholarships, professional opportunities and national team consideration.
In addition, the open space of the futsal courts is designed to accommodate exposition business, as well as programs benefiting the citizens of Cudahy.

Will the Wave move its offices to the Premier Training Academy?
It is not practical at this time to move the Wave business offices into Cudahy; the whole of the facility will be devoted the soccer and multi-purpose uses. We certainly expect to have a presence at the facility; plans are still being shaped but it could take the form of a pro shop/merchandise store or ticket outlet.

How do we know you’re committed to the long-term viability of this project?
The Wave are in the midst of their 24th consecutive season of professional indoor soccer; with local ownership, a thriving camp program and strong ties to the community, we expect to be around for decades to come.
And we expect those decades to be spent training in Cudahy.  A project of this magnitude is not something we take lightly, or expect to discard in favor of the newest thing. 

How will the Premier Training Academy work with the Wave Summer Soccer Camps?
More than 4,000 kids attend our camps every summer, at more than 50 locations, including Cudahy.  We see the academy as an extension of that program, offering age-appropriate soccer development year-round, leaning on and expanding on the curriculum we’ve created over more than 15 years of Wave Summer Soccer Camps.

Why should Cudahy be providing TIF dollars to help a professional sports team?
The Milwaukee Wave do not live in the same economic neighborhood as Major League Baseball, the NFL or the NBA.  A top NBA player, for example, will receive as much salary in 2 games as the entire Wave roster does for a season.  We have great television partnerships with Fox Soccer Channel (national) and Time Warner Sports (local), but neither provides us a revenue stream at this time.  In short, the Wave cannot tap into the kind of revenue available to those other leagues.  TIF support is really a re-investment in the economic development of Cudahy, and makes the whole of the project possible.

Source

Day 18 – Still No real response from the Mayor – The city should reach out to Wal-Mart & the Wave to keep them interested - if they are interested at all in making the Wave a reality.

Hawk Eyes Hollenbeck is watching...

The idea behind PILOTs is that property values, and therefore tax collections, will rise after the TIF plan improvements have been completed.  TIF allows the increase in property taxes to be used to reimburse the developer for certified project costs.

The difference between the taxes on the property before and after it becomes part of a TIF plan is called the PILOT; PILOT stands for Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Tax.

If there were existing tax on the property, the portion of property tax that existed before the TIF plan is called the “base.”  Any tax amount larger than the base is then the PILOT.

PILOT amounts are based on the actual assessed value of a property.  The PILOT and any base tax add up to the same amount of tax that would have been charged if the property had not been in a TIF plan.  The PILOT is NOT an additional “TIF tax”; it is a portion of the regular tax that can be redirected to the project.

PILOT =Regular Property Tax Base

PILOTs Example:

Before TIF:

Tract 1: Open Pasture, market value $60,000

Value:                                       $60,000                   $60,000

x Assessment Ratio:                   .19                           .32

x Tax Levy:                             0.0572                     0.0572

After TIF:

Tract 1: New development, market value $700,000

                                                Residential                Commercial

x Assessment Ratio:                  .19                           .32

x Tax Levy:                             0.0572                     0.0572

Tax:                                         $7,607.60                 $12,812.80

Market Value Increase:             $ 640,000.00           $ 640,000.00

Property Tax Increase:            $ 6,955.52               $ 11,714.56

Base tax:                                  $ 652.08                  $1,098.24

PILOT*:                                  $ 6,955.52                $ 11,714.56

Total tax:                                 $ 7,607.60                $ 12,812.80

*In this case, the PILOT dollars would be redirected to reimburse the developer for certified project costs, like building sewers, roads, and sidewalks for a new housing subdivision.

What are EATs?

As was stated before, the underlying principle of TIF is that tax collections will rise after TIF plan improvements are completed.  Property taxes are not the only tax types to increase with new development.  Economic Activity Taxes, or EATs, are the non-property-tax sources of revenue to the City, and these revenues also increase with new development.  TIF allows half of the increase in tax collections to be used to reimburse the developer for the certified project costs.

Only new taxes are allowed to be reimbursed.  To determine the amount of new tax, the City sets an EATs “base.”  This base is the total taxes collected in the area in the year before the project was activated.  50% of any tax amount over that base, or “increment,” can be redirected.  A TIF plan can have many projects.  Each project will have one base, and the taxes for all the businesses inside that project will be added together and counted against that base.

The City includes the following tax types in its definition of EATs:

Corporate and Individual Earnings Taxes also known as “profits” and “withholding”

Sales Taxes, both on retail sales and on utilities

Use Taxes Convention & Tourism Tax on Food/Beverage Sales also known as “food/beverage” tax

Utility Taxes also known as “gross receipts taxes” or “franchise fees”

EATs Example:

The following is a sample of an EATs calculation:

PROJECT 1 OF TIF PLAN XYZ:

Base Year Taxes:

Profits     Earnings   Sales         Use          Utility      Food/Bev Total

$200        $2,000     $15,000   $1,000     $800        $1,000     $20,000

Current Year Taxes:

$800        $2,500     $24,500   $1,000     $1,200     $10,000   $40,000

Increment:

Profits     Earnings   Sales         Use          Utility      Food/Bev Total

$600        $500        $9,500     $0            $400        $9,000     $20,000

TIF Reimbursement:

Profits     Earnings   Sales         Use          Utility      Food/Bev Total

$300        $250        $4,750     $0            $200        $4,500     $10,000

Source Here

Headhunting firm to help hire DPW director

Cudahy Common Council members will look into headhunter firms that specialize in engineering to assist the city in search for a new director of public works.

In a 4-1 vote April 1, council members approved hiring a headhunting firm.  The money will come from the city and the water utility.

Mayor Ryan McCue said hiring a firm would ensure that city officials hire a quality person for the position.

About 10 percent could be charged to the tax-incremental finance district.

Mark Otto, 3rd district alderman, voted against the motion, saying the money should come from the city's general fund.

Is anyone up in arms of using a TIF money for this use?

Day 14 – Still No real response from the Mayor – Continental Properties is coming back

With all of this talk and interest in TIFs here is what I would like to know from our city people!

Does the city have a Local TIF Annual Report that is printed?

Where is Cudahy’s total amount of TIFs?  

How can we see the TIFs, you know, a running tally?

How much has been spent on TIFs over the years?

What is the maximum amount of a TIF giving out?

What is the maximum amount of TIF to land ratio?  i.e. 10 Million for 26 acres vs. 1 Million for 1 acre, thus the 1 Million for 1 acre has a higher ratio.

I am sure the city keeps track of how much a business asks for and get for TIF.  How can we see the difference?

Is there a map of the TIF districts?

Do the TIF districts, that are closed, add to city’s coffers?

I was told that as far as TIF assistance, Craig Faucett (who is retiring), would be the one who could tell me about all of the previous development agreements that the city has provided TIF assistance for.  Development agreements are a matter of open public records, and I could get copies, however, they thought think it would be easier if I just sat down and talked to Craig.

Another source for TIF assistance would be to look at the financials connected to city / CDA borrowing.  If the city borrowed money for a business under the TIF, they are listed individually by project, and again that would give you a good part of a list to start. 

As far as a running list kept by any department (city treasurer, engineering, assessing, Mayor), for anyone who has come looking for assistance, none kept a running list. 

Look at this city’s TIF info www.ballwin.mo.us/index.php and www.ballwin.mo.us/index.php they have the info right on the web.  Or even something like this - www.cityofknoxville.org/policy/tifsummary.pdf it would not cost that much to have our city website have someone scan the document in.

Of course, I don’t see the Cudahy city website changing anytime soon!  The Mayor would have no need for the public to see open public records.  You can just come on down to city hall.

Having info at our fingertips and mouse clicks 24/7 hurts someone who would like to keep us in the dark.

City embraces a redeveloping trend

Greenfield markets itself with new effort

By STEFANIE SCOTT
sscott@cninow.com

Posted: May 13, 2008

Big-name hotels, restaurants and shops could come to Greenfield if a new marketing endeavor proves successful.

The campaign - dubbed Grow Greenfield - to attract developers and grow the city's commercial tax base will mostly focus on redevelopment in a city that's largely built out.

As part of the effort, Greenfield officials have established an Economic Development Committee made up of Mayor Michael Neitzke and department managers and staff.

The city has also joined a trade group, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and put together a brochure touting the city's high points.

The right place

Neitzke said the city wants to capitalize on its high traffic counts, its educated residential population and its proximity to downtown Milwaukee and Gen. Mitchell International Airport.

"The city has everything a commercial enterprise would want," he said.

Greenfield has recently already seen Bilt-Rite Furniture, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Wauwatosa Savings Bank and Aldi moved in, and the upscale grocery store Sendik's opens today, May 15.

But the mayor sees plenty of further opportunities to bring in quality restaurant and shopping establishments.

He said the city must pursue development rather than waiting for organizations to come calling.

In touch with developers

To that end, Economic Development Committee members recently attended an ICSC networking event in Milwaukee that allowed them to plug the city to real estate brokers, developers and retailers, many who have contemplated Greenfield for development projects.

The experience let developers know the city wants to work on development opportunities.  Committee members have already started getting responses from interested parties, said Rick Sokol, Greenfield director of neighborhood services.

"It was surprisingly successful," Sokol said.

Although committee members won't divulge too much for fear of hurting a potential deal, they said there may be some exciting announcement to make as early as this summer.

Targeting certain areas

Some elements are already in the works.

At the May 6 Common Council meeting, Sokol said the Target store at South 27th Street and Layton Avenue will likely be demolished after this year's Christmas season so that the retailer can construct a more modern building to open in fall 2009.

That led city staff to suggest looking into the potential of establishing a tax-incremental financing (TIF) district along 27th Street between Layton and Grange avenues, which could encompass the Kmart and former Kohl's sites, the Willows golf range and the Target corner.

Tax-incremental financing, or TIF, is a mechanism that allows municipalities to borrow money to fund infrastructure improvements for an area that otherwise would be difficult to develop or redevelop.  The increased property tax revenue from the improved land is then diverted from the tax roll to pay off the loan.

The city has had little experience with TIF districts so far, but they may serve as a tool to redevelop some of the areas where land parcels need to be assembled, which can prove costly and risky without some help, Sokol said.

Ongoing campaign

Taking a more proactive stance on development was one of the goals set for the Neighborhood Services Department when it was created, Neitzke said.

"One thing I've learned (as mayor) is that everything takes a long time to get moving, but we've already developed positive momentum," he said.

Economic Development Committee members will try to continue that momentum by attending a regional ICSC conference this fall in Chicago.  They also hope to talk to other groups, including the Milwaukee 7, to make sure it's mentioning Greenfield in its marketing efforts.

In the future, the committee may be opened up to resident members similar to the Plan Commission.

The mayor also hopes to get the Community Development Authority more involved in the process.

For instance, the CDA could consider how certain zoning regulations impact redevelopment.  One area the CDA could examine is the required height allowance for buildings near the freeway to allow the potential for hotel development, Sokol said.

High-quality effort

Beyond merely attracting redevelopment, the city wants to encourage higher-quality projects, Sokol added.

The mayor concurred, noting the need for the city to stay on top of redevelopment opportunities so the quality of the city's economic base doesn't erode, Neitzke said.

"Low quality or lack of redevelopment is a sign a city is denigrating," he said.

Stefanie Scott can be reached at (262) 446-6618.

AT A GLANCE

Greenfield Director of Neighborhood Service Rick Sokol reviewed development opportunities within the city with the Common Council on May 6.  The following are a few areas to consider:

• West Loomis Road and Interstate 894 corridor: Developers have shown interest in building a hotel in this area.  Greenfield is working with Milwaukee County to relocate the Park and Ride operation from the freeway to a different location so the city could use the site for commercial development that would bring revenue to the city.  A developer already has acquired control of many of the surrounding properties.  However, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has said it plans to use the site as a staging area for the Interstate 94 reconstruction project, which could delay progress for up to six years.  Developers have also shown interest in redeveloping the northwest corner of West Layton Avenue and West Loomis Road and the northeast corner of South 43rd Street and West Loomis Road.

• Spring Mall: The retail center at 76th Street and Cold Spring Road is owned by a large real estate corporation.  However, during the past few months, several companies have indicated they'd be interested in redeveloping it.  In addition, an anchor tenant has show interest in rebuilding on the site and a big-box development could go up across the road on the west side of 76th Street.

• South 84th Street and I-894 corridor: There are two large parcels - one zoned for agricultural and one for institutional uses - that could be developed.  Steinhafel's Furniture, which has indicated it would like to expand, has acquired some adjoining properties.  A traffic light may be installed at South 80th Street and Layton Avenue to help with traffic flow from the new Sendik's Commons, which has filled its vacancies.  A dental office has been proposed for the north side of Layton, just south of 80th Street.

GreenfieldNOW.com

What kind of development would you like to see come to Greenfield?  More restaurants?  Upscale retailers?  Hotels?  Share your views in our community forum.

After reading all of that does, Mayor McCue and Cudahy seem pro-business to you?

One final thing did the Mayor’s name popup all the way through the article or was it just “the Mayor”? 

Maybe Mayor Michael Neitzke doesn’t have a complex problem with not seeing his name attached to the word Mayor!  Can we trade for him, we could throw in a few city people (loyalists - Loyalty is good as long as you don’t get blinded by it) and a financial compensation.  Maybe along with signing the recall (more on that Monday) we could each chip in some cash.

The American President Lewis Rothschild: They don't have a choice!  Bob Rumson is the only one doing the talking!  People want leadership, Mr. President, and in the absence of genuine leadership, they'll listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.  They want leadership.  They're so thirsty for it they'll crawl through the desert toward a mirage, and when they discover there's no water, they'll drink the sand.

Day 5 – Still No response from the Mayor

Amazing, the leader (in name only) votes something down, is silent, and will probably gets away with it.  Hey, only in Cudahy!

It was requested that I do a monthly review of the most looked at topics I wrote.  I will run down the top 10 and give a small overview of each. 

Some of these have an unfair advantage because they are older and have had the chance to be looked at longer.  By far, the shorter time Wal-Mart articles have more people view them quicker.  Many people still want to hear about Wal-Mart from both sides of the issue.

People keep emailing me offline in private and that is good.  I would like people to start making comments.  The South Shore viewers don’t seem to want to publicly comment, by how many private emails I get vs. the comments feature used.

1. Turf War – What to Build? –Yes it is a Wal-Mart post and I talked about TIFs and how the Mayor doesn’t want the Wal-Mart and how this chance may not come again. I also included a letter from a reader that they sent to the Mayor and my responses to what the Mayor replied.

2. Real Voter Intimidation – I talked about how during the 2006 election my neighbor was intimidated and took down his sign in fear of retribution from his union steward.

3. ** Adults Only **  – The title maybe misleading to a few, but the subject matter was how adult content is on the web and we must watch what our children do on the web.

4. One Must Look Back To See The Future  – Here I wrote about that sometimes one must look back to see the future and how Mayor McCue had some foreshadowing in his campaign pledge about Wal-Mart.  Cudahy, as is the nation, is in a recession and how in a downturn we should not pass up the opportunity of this Wal-Mart.

5. History Repeating Page Two  –I wrote about the info a reader emailed me about a Cudahy School closing and Wal-Mart spin.

6. Plan Commission   – I wrote about what happen at the last Plan Commission meeting about Cudahy Station.  How some members didn’t even understand what they were to be voting on that night.

7. Proposal On The Table  – I wrote about what is the Wal-Mart proposal, TIF, and the Plan Commission.

8. Teen’s Common Sense Sometimes Lacking  – I wrote about a report I came across on how Florida legislators are encouraging a review of their "abstinence only" sex education programs after a recent survey completed by Florida teens returned some curious results of not understanding things like drinking bleach prevents HIV.  By now way am I attacking "abstinence only", just bring to light what they found.

9. Flamethrower  –I wrote about what a person said to me about how I deal with the Mayor and if I hate him.  I may be ruffling feathers and again once you write it, and sign it, you can’t hide from it something I wish the city would do.

10. Keeping Us In The “Noir”  – Keeping Us In The "Noir" is about how we are in the dark (Noir) on may things in government and how with open records laws, the information should be public and easily obtainable.  I wrote about how many of these very things should be on the web at a mouse click away from you and I to read and know.

I hope everyone enjoys reading my posts.  You may not agree with me, but maybe what I have to say will shed some new light on matters and make you pause.  I am not a reporter, but a commentator.  I do not get paid, work for the city, or have a secret agenda.  I gain nothing personally from doing this blog other than the satisfaction of being able to put “The Way I See It” out for others to read.  I do it because I think it needs to be said.  I try to be fair and when I see something I don’t agree with, I let it be known.

Many people have said I am hard on the Mayor in his first year and I write blogs that don’t show his job performance in a good light.  When I see something that he does great, I will blog on it.

Hey, I am not the only one blogging on the Cudahy Now website, Greg Janisch was McCue’s campaign Treasurer and he can blog.  Just because I am critical of the Mayor’s job performance, does not make me a person who is attacking Ryan McCue personally nor am I character assassinating him!  This is about his job performance period!  We all have freedom of speech and a voice; I just choose to use mine.

Here is what a reader, Dave Taylor, said in a comment:

“Randy, there's a lot of people in Cudahy who back you up, even if they are too scared to admit it.  We should all be thankful that someone is willing to take a stand for what is right for our city; like you said, "...just want Cudahy to be better", too bad there are egos that get in the way of the good the city could do.  There isn't any reason to be shameful of an opinion, that's what makes us human (not robots) and why our country is a great one!

Sometimes you may feel your comments fall of deaf ears, but the truth is that people ARE reading and they ARE listening.  We rally behind you and hopefully, you are stronger in your plight for a better Cudahy because of it.  You are a voice that matters!  You are looking out for the betterment of Cudahy!  You are taking a stand, unafraid of whose feathers you ruffle!  Those of us who stand behind will continue to support you, even if the “powers that be” wish we weren’t listening!

Keep up the good work…your supporters need your voice!”

Someone has talked to my superiors at mycommunitynow.com to have my work censored or shutdown.  The claim was I lie, spread rumors, and have false and inaccurate information.  I try to source my work and some comes from people in government that do not like the direction we are headed or people close to a situation that feel some injudicious is being done.  I have always believed in correct information and not disinformation.  If something is truly wrong let me know and I will correct it, but don’t be all that upset and try and shut me down because you don’t LIKE what I am saying!  People if what I am hearing from those inside is true, some scary things are coming or happening.  Hypothetically, it might even be something like a change of salary ordinances for health insurances that is not fair and done evenly.  Should it not be changed for all and not leave out anyone?  Fair is fair.  That is a hypothetical, but watch it might just come true.

I will not stop until the misinformation, disinformation and no information are brought to light.  More and more people are emailing me with things.  These are very reliable people and trustworthy people.  Together we can all make a difference.  I will NEVER sell you out and I have been asked who is telling me things.  The wheel of information doesn’t need to stop spinning just because it might ruffle some feathers.

The Wave's facility will be unique to the metropolitan area and will bring large numbers of soccer parents to the facility for their children's games, practices, etc.  It is certainly predictable that these people will be shopping in Cudahy before and after games and during practices.  And there is ample local and national evidence of soccer's growing popularity here and throughout the country.  $$$$$$$$

Some people at the Plan Commission meeting were upset with the TIF being used for the Wave.  These people fail to recognize that an investment in a sports center creates jobs and generates tax monies.  The tax monies come not only from the employment of local people, but also from the salaries of out of town athletes that train & those who will use the convention center.  They also fail to see the investment for Cudahy Students that can use the facility during school for FREE.  The quality of life that having the Wave Center brings to the Cudahy area far exceeds the more traditional job creation and other tax revenue areas.  $$$$$$$$$$

Many of the Wave’s office people will have their offices at the center.  $$$$$$

The academy would feature 60,000 square feet of training space for both indoor soccer and futsal (five-on-five game) and will serve the estimated 100,000 soccer players who live within 100 miles of Cudahy.  $$$$$$$$

The facility could provide training for 250 to 500 players a day, with the center led by Wave coach Keith Tozer, who would serve as academy director, and the Wave's all-time leading scorer Michael King, who would manage the training programs.  The center would provide professional quality training to children and adults in the same way the Wave trains.  If approved, the training academy is expected to be completed by 2009.

The benefit to those who live in town and to those who will be coming in (with copious disposable income) to shop, eat or take advantage of the Wave's programs is likely to be more positive than some seem to think. 

If Cudahy wants to move forward, let it start here…let it start now. 

"Poor People have been voting for Democrats for the last 50 years, .............and they are still poor."

- Sir Charles Barkley

In case you missed M. Schroeder’s post in the public forum on April 25, 2008, I felt it was important to repeat.

http://www.cudahynow.com/story/index.aspx?id=743633

Clarifying Details on Wave Premier Training Academy

Milwaukee Wave

Joe Henika's post on April 16 regarding Cudahy Station and the Milwaukee Wave Premier Training Academy contained some claims that deserve some clarification.

The Wave's 61,000-square-foot facility will be unlike any in the state, if not the nation.  It will feature a regulation-size Major Indoor Soccer League field with turf, boards and glass that will be the training home of the Wave, along with four regulation futsal courts dedicated to high-level training of players of all ages.  The indoor facilities in north Milwaukee (Uihlein) and out in Brookfield each have three permanent indoor fields, but no futsal courts.  The Milwaukee County Sports Complex in Franklin, meanwhile, has only the four-futsal courts.  The Wave's facility will be able to accommodate more players than any of these other locations.

Covering approximately 40,000 square feet, the hard-surface futsal courts have been designed to meet the needs of the Cudahy Chamber of Commerce, allowing for easy conversion to exposition center space.  With the facility's multiple uses, the Wave expects it to attract more than 500,000 visitors annually.

The Milwaukee Wave is a for-profit company entering their 25th year of operation.  They have earned 15 consecutive postseason appearances on the field, and run the state's most successful summer camp program in the off-season.

I hope the agenda is clear to the Commission.  I don’t want to be embarrassed of the train wreck that was the last Plan Commission meeting.

A train wreck in slow motion is still a train wreck.

The key is not to have a train wreck in the first place.

I hope the Commission members understand what they are voting on and the language that is not broad and vague.  Literacy does not guarantee comprehension!

I hope the Commission members can talk about Wal-Mart without screams of doomsday predictions.  Their decisions cannot be driven by pure emotion and have to have reason as well.  Zsebe and Nelson take your personal feeling out and take a step back.  Putting up a fuss doesn’t mean it is right!

I hope the Mayor, in public comments, doesn’t double-talk or gobbledy-gook doublespeak or give the “Classic politics of politicians” and just answer the questions. 

Yet again, we ask a simple question Mayor, “If NOT Wal-Mart what?”  Office space, which, if you watched the slideshow presentation, shows that market is tapped.  Convention center, we are about 10 years to late, besides the Wave center doubles as one.

When the bird swoops in for the mouse and the mouse wins, the mouse lives for another day and the bird looks for a worm instead.

I have to say it is hard working with PowerPoint engineering, but one must have an open mind and creative thoughts along with common sense.  If the current members don’t possess these qualities maybe they are on the wrong commission.

I really believe that if Cudahy is serious about moving forward with its (re)development, it needs to start with projects like this that will employ its citizens, provide them ample, quality and affordable shopping and attract entities like the MISL's Milwaukee Wave to town.

The benefit to those who live in town and to those who will be coming in (with copious disposable income) to shop, eat or take advantage of the Wave's programs is likely to be more positive than some seem to think.

Commissioner, Michael Nelson, said he would like to see how the development fits in with the downtown master plan, which the city is in the process of creating.  Question – If the city has just started in the process of creating it, 1) How will it be done in time for the next meeting? and 2) the master plan is flexible and putting in a provision for a large retail store could be added, thus it would fit perfectly.

As I have said before, the community makes the store, not the store makes the community!

Dennis Alpert of Wal-Mart said “I really don't (and didn't) know how else to emphasize our desire to work WITH the Mayor and the Council to make this Cudahy's Wal-Mart.”

As Dennis said, many times during the last meeting, we will work with the city.  It is just too bad the commission members didn’t understand the point of Tuesday's meeting.

A reminder of what it was to decide on the appropriateness of the land use and not what the design would be.

If the Commission/Council could have focused on that point, I think we'd be moving forward on altering the design and implementing changes they'd like to see.

Hopefully, by next month's special meeting (May 5) certain members of the Commission/Council will be more willing to address the land use issue, put aside their personal feelings and move forward in a direction that will make Cudahy's citizens happy.

If Cudahy wants to move forward, let it start here…let it start now.

I get the impression Wal-Mart is NOT really interested in the Pennsylvania and Layton site as some people would wish they should be.

This is our last, best hope for a Wal-Mart!  Period.  People please don’t fall under the spell that a gift like this will come again!

In working with Cobalt, the long narrowness of the site, coupled with the environmental problems, won't generate enough revenue to probably make it economically affordable.

I respect Joe Henika very much, but I think he is “Naïve” in thinking Wal-Mart will want to stay focused and willing to build in Cudahy.

Contrary to belief, everyone’s driveway is a destination!  I strive to park my car every day and plan my day to do so.  Maybe some don’t feel that way and don’t want to go home.  I want to see my family!

Wal-Mart is a destination!  Any shopping place is!  Unless you are talking tourism.

Based on numbers run by Cobalt, to get about $10 million in TIF assistance on the environmental on that site, they needed to create $53 million in development for the numbers to work.  People, they will ask for TIF money!  Any business building in Cudahy in a TIF can! 

Is it that all TIFs are bad or just bad at Cudahy Station?

Is 10 Million the most ever asked for?

What is the most ever received?

I just wanted to clarify something Wal-Mart is not getting a TIF; the TIF is for the Wave.

In the Mayor’s 2008 State of the city address, 36 minutes into the speech, he states “Wal-Mart itself is not asking for a tax [TIF] subsidy.”  I just think it needs to be said again.  Taxpayers are not paying for Wal-Mart.

Again, anyone can ask for a TIF.  Not all do, Joe Halser (City Lounge Co-Owner) was kind enough to inform me that City Lounge is in a TIF district but they have never received nor requested to receive any tax dollars for their venture.  It has all been privately funded.

Does Cudahy have a master list available to look at what TIFs have been requested and approved over the years?  Does the Mayor have the last say if one is approved?  Who’s name is stamped on the document?

With all of this fuss over the Cudahy Station TIF, don’t you think the city should have the records posted for the public to see?  After all, we are paying for it!

As Mayor McCue said, “Once elected as your next mayor, I will work hard to attract new business that will benefit and enhance our community.  At the same time, I will not give unnecessary incentives to developers.”  Source

How do we know if unnecessary incentives are or were given to developers?  Remember the classic Ronald Reagan quote “Trust, but verify.”

Cudahy offered $8 million in TIF funds for the United States Bowling Congress to locate in a new 70,000-square-foot building at Cudahy Station, located at the intersection of Layton and Nicholson avenues.  The building would have cost $13.5 million to build.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/localnews/1603842.html

The part about Cudahy offering the $8 million tax [TIF] subsidy to get $13.5 million building is truly amazing.  If the residents of Cudahy knew about that one, they would go ballistic! 

Oops, I guess I just told them if they didn’t see it already.

I am told from Mayor McCue, that the information from The Business Journal of Milwaukee is wrong.  Neither the city nor the Mayor can offer a TIF.  The developer must request one.  Mayor McCue said it should be that the developer Continental Properties, offered it to the Bowling Congress. I just wanted to include what Mayor McCue had to say.

Can you imagine if Joe Henika knew that they were giving $8 million tax [TIF] subsidy to get $13.5 million building?  Again, I just told him.  Please, someone check in on Joe.

I can't believe that the Milwaukee Journal did not report about the incentives offered.  Well, I guess I can.

Pennsylvania and Layton site - Even when the market was booming, at most, with a Wal-Mart Supercenter, two to three medium box stores (size of Best Buy), and a couple of small special stores or a restaurant closer to Layton, top end you could only push about $47 million in assessed value on the site.  (Remember there is a height restriction of no more than three floors.)

That is why, if Wal-Mart doesn't feel that they can get the city to move in the next 30 days, they will probably throw in the towel on Cudahy, and move onto other sites in other cities.  Other more cooperative and welcoming, not to mention, an organized city.

In the end, we will be driving, and the steel will be rusting, the city will be cowering (having to cleanup the site) and because of the issue those NO group are making on the TIF, the next developer will not come forward because of the false stigma of asking for a TIF.  Nothing like shooting yourself in the foot.  We will sit on it, just as the Mayor wants us to do. 

We can drive for our goods.  We don’t need a convenience of having a Wal-Mart in Cudahy. Right? Why have any retail in Cudahy, we can all drive to Oak Creek. 

Those that twist the truth when convenient shall be tangled in their own ways!

If I'm the problem, then I'm the one that needs to get out of the way so it can get better.  If somebody else is the problem, then they've got to be big enough to step out of the way or do what is right!

Maybe it is my own “Naïveté” that sees this!

Here is an email I received and my response back, with some additional comments.  Please people keep the emails coming.

Here is my response back!

I think you got the double talk politician answer.  Answering the question without answering it.  He has not to mine or many others stated what should be in there instead.

Also, if you look back at his campaign platform ( http://ryanmccue.com ), he talks about Wal-Mart coming to Cudahy.  That was when Wal-Mart was not on the Iceport, but Pennsylvania and Layton.  So all of this gobbledy-gook about Wal-Mart is fine just not on the Iceport is not so much truthful as a political answer.

Yes, I do think his mind is made up, yet I do think he is softening.

The Master Plan is flexible and not rigid as the Mayor makes it out to be.

If he was misquoted “Why not have it fixed right away”?  When the paper misquoted me, I have them fix the online on and run a retraction.  Which they did.  Why is it now he is just bringing it to light?

Maybe the reader is wrong, maybe he misheard Mayor McCue, maybe not.  I was not there to know the truth (on the phone).  Why would the reader lie?  Why would the Mayor deny it?   What can be accomplished from this?

It sounds to me that the Mayor is still banking on KRM, probably at the insistence of VandeWalle and Associates and is willing to just sit out the 20-30 years before it happens.

Didn’t your parents teach you to bank on something you know is real?

The Mayor’s view of utopia for Cudahy does not include Wal-Mart

He, Smith, the Pavlic types (remember they voted against), have no intentions of having their name on the Wal-Mart.

When I offered “YES Wal-Mart” signs to some of the city personnel they acted as if I was giving holy water to a vampire.

People, think back to the 2004 election and it was no surprise that Bruce S (lost reelection), Tom Centernowski and Jill Gestwicki (decided not to run) disappeared from the political landscape, and all voted in favor of the Iceport development.  Smith survived because he had no challenger, and truth be told, if the construction had not have stopped in Feb 04, probably Jack Vaccaro would have been Mayor of Cudahy from 2004 to 2007.

A very informed reader emailed me this info about Cudahy School closing and Wal-Mart spin.

Wal-Mart has helped the schools in the South Milwaukee and Cudahy area, in 1992 Kosciuszko Elementary School was closed due to declining enrollment, it reopened in 1997 after a surge in the population and was reopened, it didn't have enough money for playground equipment.  The Wal-Mart on 27th and college (near the Menards) that stored donated two tetherball poles to helped them out.

In 2004, Wal-Mart named Rene Winter who is a Special education teacher at Kosciuszko School a Teacher of the Year Nominee and received $1,000 for the school.

In the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club store on 27th Street.  There are framed letters from businesses and schools thanking them for their donations and volunteer time for helping them.  A few of the letters I saw were from K-Ranch I believe, one was from the South Milwaukee booster club plus the Athletics department for donating towards there football program I believe.

This is what the public doesn’t know and should know, plus, Rene Winter, the Teacher from Kosciuszko, she is a staunch supporter of Wal-Mart and many of the teachers want this Wal-Mart.

If you ask around the school system, I don't if you have any kids in the public schools but many of the teachers want this.  Teachers want a Wal-Mart because of the prices and would have more options to choose from.  Pick 'N Save has very little to choose in school supplies plus the stuff is to expensive.

Today I have posted TWO articles

Let’s see, Muskego took GE away from Cudahy

The Mayor may let The Milwaukee Wave training center slip to Franklin

The Mayor may push Wal-Mart into St. Francis, South Milwaukee, or Oak Creek

What or Who is next?  Ladish, Patrick Cudahy, Roadrunner Dawes, Jeff’s Fast Freight…?

Maybe we will need the KRM train since not much will be left!  We may not end up with “Always low prices,” but we will “always” have the still rusting structure to look up at. 

Please contact the Mayor and your Alderperson and tell them to stop slipping away our future and companies!

Contact:

Mayor Ryan McCue

Phone Number: (W) 769-2222

Address: 3927 E Plankinton Ave

mccuer@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson First District Joseph Mikolajczak

Phone Number: (H) 483-1255

Address: 3754 E. Plankinton Avenue

mikolajczakj@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Second District Mary Schissel

Phone Number: (H) 744-0420

Address: 3836 E Munkwitz Ave

schisselm@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Third District Mark Otto

Phone Number: (H) 769-6626

Address: 3324 E Mallory Ave

ottom@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Fourth District Sean Smith

Phone Number: (H) 486-6221

Address: 5618 S Rosewood Ave

smiths@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Alderperson Fifth District Name Thomas Pavlic

Phone Number: (H) 483-7116

Address: 6015 Summer Winds Ct

pavlict@ci.cudahy.wi.us

Tax Increment Financing, “TIF’s” are not new to Cudahy.  Some people think that the proposed Wal-Mart and Cudahy Station are the only projects in a TIF/TID and that is not correct.  Cudahy Station has 13 years remaining.  TIF’s are a good tool to bring in development. 

Even Lee R. Barczak's Cudahy Market is in a TIF / TID.

The project seeks public financial assistance in the form of a $600,000 special tax district.

This is the information from the city’s website:

Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, is a tool that has been used for redevelopment and community improvement projects throughout the United States for more than half a century.  With federal and state sources for redevelopment generally less available, TIF has become an often-used financing mechanism for municipalities.

TIF is a tool to use future gains in taxes to finance the current improvements that will create those gains.  When a public project such as a road, school, or hazardous waste cleanup is carried out, there is an increase in the value of surrounding real estate, and often new investment (new or rehabilitated buildings, for example).  This increased site value and investment creates more taxable property, which increases tax revenues.  The increased tax revenues are the "tax increment.”  Tax Increment Financing dedicates that increased revenue to finance debt issued to pay for the project.  TIF is designed to channel funding toward improvements in distressed or underdeveloped areas where development would not otherwise occur.  TIF creates funding for public projects that may otherwise be unaffordable to localities.

Tax increment financing can be a complex thing, and even some public officials seem to be confused about where the money in a TIF district comes from.

While TIF is not a magic wand, it is a valuable tool that a city can use to bootstrap a strategic new development, overcoming the obstacles that might prevent it from going forward.

Does a TIF district reduce the amount of property tax paid by property owners or the amount of sales tax paid by consumers in the district?

No.  The county/city assessor appraises the property and the county/city treasurer collects taxes using the same rates as if the TIF district didn't exist.  The usual sales tax rate applies as well.  The difference in a TIF district is in what happens to the money once it's collected.

Does a TIF district reduce the amount of property taxes and sales taxes that go to the schools, the city, the libraries, and other government entities dependent on those funds?

No.  The taxes generated by the property value and retail activity already present in the district when the district is established will continue to go the same government entities.  It's only the new, incremental revenues generated by increased retail activity and property values that can be captured for use within a TIF district.

What generates the money in a TIF district?

The key is the "I" in TIF, which stands for "increment.”  TIF districts can capture incremental revenues from property tax, local sales tax, and other local government fees.

When a TIF district is established, the county/city assessor determines the base assessed value for taxable property in the district, and city government determines the base level of taxable sales already occurring in the district.  The sales taxes and property taxes generated by this baseline will continue to go to the government entities that are receiving them now.

But some or all of the tax revenues over and above the baseline--the incremental revenue--can be "captured" for use within the TIF district.