The Daily Reporter articles from January 2006

The Daily Reporter archives from January 2006

Grafton considering 55-acre retail project.
January 3, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Continental Properties Co. Inc. wants to tap into Grafton residents' shopping money with a new 55-acre retail project. "Grafton is a great community to work with and to provide a retail selection that can't be offered...

EPA pushes renewable fuels.
January 3, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Fuel pumped into vehicles across the country will have a home-grown flavor in 2006. Just as the year drew to a close, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued new standards Wednesday under the authorization...

WI state Senator Glenn Grothman drafting amendment to limit spending.
January 4, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan State Sen. Glenn Grothman said he will propose a constitutional amendment this month aimed at limiting government spending while avoiding problems found in earlier plans. Grothman, R-West Bend, said the plan his...

Two Wisconsin state senators propose DNR reforms.
January 4, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder With the annual University of Wisconsin-Madison vs. Marquette basketball game already decided, two state senators are laying groundwork for another dose of inner-state rivalry. Citing land use, wetland and pier...

Motives of Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resource reform questioned.
January 5, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The action may be taking place in Arbor Vitae and Cadott, but organizations from across the start are chiming in on hearings to reform the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. On the eve of Wednesday's hearing...

Gorman & Co. proposes 50 houses in Metcalfe area.
January 5, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Gorman & Co. is pitching a plan to build about 50 new houses on vacant city-owned lots in Milwaukee's Metcalfe Park area. The Madison-based developer would purchase the roughly 40 lots the city owns between North 27th...

Milwaukee, Environmental Protection Agency reach deal.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan The city of Milwaukee will spend $51,885 investigating environmental problems on three former gas station properties as part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency. Depending on what environmental...

Missouri Governor Doyle signs bill on contracting reform.
January 6, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Gov. Jim Doyle shed some ink Wednesday, signing 15 bills into law, and marking state spending and contracting for reform along the way. Doyle put his signature on AB 105, authored by Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay,...

City of Milwaukee agrees to tax incremental financing for Manpower parking structure.
January 9, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder There's no such thing as a free lunch, and free parking is becoming harder to find, too. So a few feathers were bound to be ruffled when the city of Milwaukee agreed to provide $25 million in tax incremental...

Commentary: Annual safety and training day approaches.
January 10, 2006... Byline: Dan Burazin Experts say that you learn more when you are actively involved in the learning process. This is the focus of the 2006 AGC of Greater Milwaukee/Milwaukee Construction Industry Safety Council, Safety & Management Training...

WI receives $3.9M in emergency energy funds from federal government.
January 10, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Despite recent temperatures melting much of the snow and ice throughout the state, the first day of spring still looms small on the horizon. So the news that Gov. Jim Doyle was able to net $3.9 million in emergency...

WI state rep Albers proposes regulating new home building.
January 11, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder If a wall falls in your new home, and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection can't hear it, is it really the contractor's fault? One state representative says it is. Sheryl Albers, R-Reedsburg,...

Demand outweighs supply of affordable housing.
January 11, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan It's the kind of problem a developer likes to have: Louie Lange III received more than 150 tenant applications but has only 24 apartments to go around. The Fond du Lac developer and president of The Commonwealth...

Tighter controls over Community Development Block Grant funds proposed.
January 12, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee is considering tightening oversight of Community Development Block Grant funds after a controversial city comptroller audit accused a developer of misusing them. "In my mind, this is about a half a million...

Dept. of Natural Resources secretary takes issue with reformers.
January 12, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder It's titled Speak Your Mind on the DNR and Other Issues, but the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources is taking issue with the brochure. Scott Hassett sent a letter to Sen. David Zien, R-Wheaton, Monday...

Miron Construction picking up tab for Dane County Courthouse doors.
January 12, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The folks working in the county prosecutor's office of the new $44 million Dane County Courthouse can rest easy again. Miron Construction has offered to cover the cost of replacing the doors installed in the office...

Ho-Chunk Nation weighs in on gaming proposal in Wisconsin legislature.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder While the Ho-Chunk Nation is in disagreement with new legislation on restricting casino establishment, it is prepared to offer constructive criticism. AB 461, which has Assembly Speaker John Gard, R-Peshtigo, and...

Milwaukee alderman suggests referendum on new funding sources.
January 13, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Alderman Robert Donovan wants to start a public discussion over whether the city should seek new ways to fund public safety and infrastructure services. "This is not additional monies, this is an effort to...

What's in the mix for 2006.
January 16, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan People peering into the crystal ball to see 2006 may find themselves staring into a mirror. Local contractors, developers, accountants, union organizers and economists are all predicting that 2006's construction...

WI. Sen. David Zien defends Department of Natural Resources claim.
January 16, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Madison mail carriers may think it best to wear gloves this week in light of the barbed correspondences being dropped in mailboxes downtown. Sen. David Zien, R-Wheaton, returned fire in a letter to Department of...

Milwaukee Futurist David Zach sees people growing apart.
January 16, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Futurist David Zach sees people growing apart. He looks at a cell phone as a device that connects people to someone they already know while disconnecting them from everyone they don't. He sees podcasting -...

Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin reiterates case for Kenosha casino.
January 17, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin continues to argue its proposed Kenosha casino wouldn't hurt Milwaukee by critiquing a city economic report saying it would. "Public opinion matters a lot," said Menominee...

Waupaca County Court of Appeals judge finds Oudenhoven Construction negligent in church project.
January 17, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder A Waupaca County Court of Appeals judge found a project's general contractor to be negligent, even though it wasn't in charge of the work that caused all the trouble. Kaukauna-based Oudenhoven Construction Inc. was...

Gov. Doyle outlines past progress, future path.
January 19, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Gov. Jim Doyle didn't have to look far for inspiration for Tuesday night's State of the State address. The state's simple one-word motto, "Forward," is emblazoned on the Wisconsin flag, a recurring motif throughout...

Proponents of Manpower's Milwaukee deal organize.
January 19, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan New details and a new pro-project coalition emerged the day before Milwaukee's Redevelopment Authority was scheduled to consider Manpower Inc.'s move. Mayor Tom Barrett's office on Dec. 22 announced Manpower's intent...

Builders rally in the Wisconsin State Capitol for rule revision.
January 20, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Contractors, insurance agents and legislators gathered in the State Capitol Wednesday to talk about the call for change in the Department of Revenue. The parties came together for a hearing on new legislation by...

Legislators ask WisDOT to halt Highway 164 project.
January 23, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Two Wisconsin legislators are cautioning the state Department of Transportation against entering any further contracts on the Highway 164 expansion project. Rep. Don Pridemore, R-Hartford, said in a statement...

Wisconsin's Fort McCoy witnessing end of era.
January 24, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Two new projects at Fort McCoy will signal the end of a reminder of Wisconsin construction industry's contribution to America's role in World War II. It was 1941, and the United States was working on plans to build up...

WI's DNR Secretary Scott Hassett and state Senator David Zien deepen their divide.
January 24, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Communication between two of the state's more intriguing pen pals continued Friday. Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Hassett dropped his reply to Sen. David Zien's, R-Wheaton, Jan. 12 letter in the...

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce opposes ethanol bill.
January 25, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder As a Senate vote on the ethanol bill draws closer, more opponents are speaking up to try to keep the legislation from reaching Gov. Jim Doyle's desk. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce issued a statement Friday...

Corporate headquarters help improve area's image.
January 25, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan A corporate headquarters gives an area the obvious benefits of educated and well-paid residents, spin-off companies and jobs for future generations. These are all important, but any new office can do the same. A...

Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony Jr. cleared of wrongdoing.
January 26, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Wisconsin Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary Ruben Anthony Jr. was cleared of any potential wrongdoing by the Wisconsin Ethics Board Wednesday. Questions were raised when it came to light that Anthony had...

Waukesha fights dehydration.
January 26, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Waukesha is taking the first steps in its water conservation effort by embracing the next generation of toilet technology. Waukesha is chucking the three primitive toilets in City Hall and replacing them with the...

Lyle Balistreri appointed to Milwaukee Plan Commission.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett appointed Lyle Balistreri, president of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council, to replace Commissioner Douglas Drake on the Milwaukee Plan Commission. "This is pretty close...

Wisconsin's Taxpayer Protection Act nearly ready.
January 27, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Nearly 400 years after Shakespeare first said that a rose by any other name is still a rose, Wisconsin legislators and citizens are putting their own spin on the sentiment. Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, and Rep....

Public Policy Forum's survey of S.E. WI residents takes up regionalism.
January 30, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan The Public Policy Forum's recent survey of southeastern Wisconsin found residents are conflicted about all but their basic desire for the region. During a Friday gathering to discuss the survey, the forum said the...

WI Underground Contractors Assn. Inc.urges support of proposed safety bill.
January 30, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Richard Wanta doesn't want anyone's house to blow up. It's a worst-case scenario, of course, but that's why Wisconsin Underground Contractors Association Inc. is urging members and other interested parties to...

Milwaukee aldermen to deliberate whether Manpower Inc. deal is good for city.
January 31, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Any city that wants to land Manpower Inc.'s 900 corporate headquarters jobs must satisfy the company's list of requirements. A Milwaukee city comptroller's report released last week said Manpower requires "free...

Wisconsin lawmakers want disaster fund.
January 31, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Tornados may not be the first thing on the average Wisconsin citizen's mind in January. Yet Mark Miller, D-Monona, Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, and Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, teamed with Reps. Gary Hebl, D-Sun Prairie, and...