The Daily Reporter articles from March 2006

The Daily Reporter archives from March 2006

Frivolous lawsuit bill moves forward in Wisconsin Legislature.
March 1, 2006... Byline: Jane Pribek A bill designed to toughen the civil justice system's treatment of frivolous lawsuits is winding through the Wisconsin Legislature and may very well end up on Gov. Jim Doyle's desk in just a few weeks. While some...

Forecast: Weather kind to construction.
March 1, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan The nationwide bout of friendly weather in 2005 could have both positive and negative impacts on contractors going into 2006. The National Weather Service counted 2005 as one of the 20 warmest years on record in the...

Express lanes with user fee proposed in Wisconsin.
March 1, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The Eagles once sang that life in the fast lane was sure to make you lose your mind. The Reason Foundation says life in FAST lanes should ease mental strain on drivers in southeastern Wisconsin. "Whether you need to...

Groups voice support for passenger rail in southeastern Wisconsin.
March 2, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle National speaker and commuter rail proponent Eugene Skoropowski argued that improving commuter rail service in southeastern Wisconsin would result in more economic development in the region. Skoropowski's...

Critics express concern about Wisconsin's nuclear power plant bill.
March 2, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder A proposed bill to streamline the process for approving and constructing nuclear power plants in Wisconsin is causing concern among the state's environmental groups. Representatives from the Sierra Club, Madison...

Ex-Marine tells Milwaukee builders about leadership.
March 2, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Former Marine Wally Adamchik had the Associated General Contractors of Greater Milwaukee at full attention for his keynote speech at its Safety and Management Training Day 2006. Speaking Tuesday at the Country...

Lake Geneva approves Wight Canyon project.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Last May, Wight Realty Group bought the Hillmoor Golf Club in downtown Lake Geneva and announced plans for an ambitious retail, golf and housing project known as Wight Canyon. A "yes" vote from City Council members...

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District wants public's opinion.
March 3, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The question facing the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District as it commences a series of open houses is not what to do in this decade; it's what to do in the next. "We're in the middle of a long-range planning...

Wal-Mart dispute in Jefferson, Wisconsin, delays other projects.
March 6, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder It's been more than three years since Wal-Mart first laid eyes on a piece of land in Jefferson for the site of a new supercenter. They still have yet to get a hold of that land. The Coalition for a Better Jefferson...

State of Wisconsin awards $12.5 million for Abbott project.
March 6, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Worldwide medical technology company Abbott Laboratories is coming to Kenosha County. On Thursday at the LakeView RecPlex in the village of Pleasant Prairie, Gov. Jim Doyle announced a $12.5 million investment to...

Former Kenosha foundry transformed into mixed use development.
March 7, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle When Finnish company Outokumpu Copper left Kenosha in 2000, it left more than the old American Brass foundry behind. It left the mess that comes from 113 years of manufacturing. Knowing that developing the...

Two bid for Red Brick School in Oregon.
March 7, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The one-time Oregon High School, more commonly known as Red Brick School, hasn't hosted a class in nearly 14 years, but it may see some action soon. Madison Developer Gary Gorman and Ray Mandli, president and owner...

Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, speaks out on ethanol change.
March 8, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder A proposed amendment to AB 15, the ethanol mandate, has drawn criticism from one state legislator.Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, issued a statement Monday decrying an amendment to remove southeastern Wisconsin from the...

Truck weight limit in Wisconsin debated.
March 8, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle A bill that would allow some trucks to carry more weight on Wisconsin roads was reviewed by the state Senate Monday.If passed, the bill would allow trucks hauling raw forest products, including intermediary lumber, on a...

Bradley Tech High School in Milwaukee to teach architecture.
March 8, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Bradley Tech High School will start teaching design and architecture courses starting in September. The new visual arts and design academy will join the school's three other divisions - construction, communications and...

Milwaukee's Housing Authority seeking funding for Convent Hill property.
March 9, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee's Housing Authority is pursuing partnerships and funding to redevelop its Convent Hill property near the Park East corridor. The proposal calls for tearing down the existing 120-unit Convent Hill...

Milwaukee comptroller's audit say the city's doing their duty.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee comptroller's audit of the city's Emerging Business Enterprise and Resident Preference programs said that overall they were doing their duty but recommended changes just the same. The audit reviewed monitoring...

Milwaukee governor candidates have different views on the ethanol mandate.
March 10, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker differentiated himself from Gov. Jim Doyle and his Republican rival for governor by speaking out against an ethanol mandate.Walker, who's facing U.S. Rep. Mark Green in the Sept....

Courthouse annex deal questioned by county supervisors.
March 13, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan County supervisors are raising questions about County Executive Scott Walker's administration after Thursday's vote to transfer $4.6 million from 10 projects to cover overruns on the courthouse annex demolition."I feel...

Barnabas "Barney" Karpfinger, founder of Edgerton Contractors of Oak Creek, dies at 77.(Obituary)
March 13, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Services for Barnabas "Barney" Karpfinger, founder of Edgerton Contractors, will be held Sunday at Heritage Funeral Homes in Milwaukee.Karpfinger, 77, died Wednesday of complications from cancer. He is remembered as a...

Ethanol bill in Wisconsin Senate dead for now.
March 13, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Following three hours of debate, action on AB 15, the ethanol mandate bill, was postponed with a 17-15 Senate vote, with one senator abstaining.The Senate's decision Thursday effectively marked the end of the bill's...

Two construction companies win Milwaukee Inner City Growth Award.
March 14, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Both construction businesses that won a Milwaukee Inner City Growth Award Monday train their own employees.And both Korkut Colakoglu, founder of House of Stone Inc., and Heidi Brandt, president and CEO of HMB Contractors...

Green business park gets approval from Madison City Council.
March 14, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder It's not uncommon for business park companies to talk about seeing green, but the city of Madison is trying to put a new, literal spin on the phrase.The City Council approved preliminary funding for a proposed...

Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan struggles to attract tourists.
March 14, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle The nearly two-year-old Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sheboygan is still trying to find its footing, and some city officials are concerned about its future.The $54 million, 182-suite resort with an indoor...

WI legislators pass bill requiring continuing education for home builders.
March 15, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Don't be surprised to see Wisconsin home builders put down nail guns and pick up textbooks, as the Legislature now requires continuing education for residential contractors.State lawmakers passed a bill, which received...

Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. never gives up on his district.
March 15, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. never gave up on his home."I refuse to allow the negative reporting, the challenging demographic data, I refuse to allow any of the negative elements to cast a shadow or...

East Side redevelopment project for Madison may be revived.
March 15, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Gary Gorman says labeling his major East Side redevelopment project for Madison as "left for dead" might be overdramatic.But it certainly looked that way at the end of February when Madison's Board of Estimates denied...

Small southern Wisconsin towns oppose ATC's plans.
March 16, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The towns of Rutland and Dunkirk in southern Dane County are farming communities with small populations and very little development permeating their town lines. And they would like to keep it that way.So when the...

Washington County OKs preserving farmland.
March 16, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle The Washington County Board voted 17-11 on Tuesday to establish a program that preserves top farmland by paying farm owners to not develop their land.As Wisconsin continues to grow, available land becomes more and more...

Groundbreaking for Troy Gardens in Madison set.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Ground will be broken Tuesday on what the Madison Area Community Land Trust is calling its most ambitious project to date.Troy Gardens will feature 30 condominium townhomes that meet the city's highest accessibility and...

Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas wants courthouse scaled back.
March 17, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle The Waukesha County courthouse may be getting a touch up rather than an overhaul.Last week, Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas sent an ordinance to the County Board asking it to revise plans for project funds...

St. Croix, Rock and Grant Counties expected to see expansion in real estate delevopments.
March 20, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Wisconsin's two largest cities, Milwaukee and Madison, have been focal points for developers in the past few years.Those cities will continue seeing growth in 2006, as developers find new ways to update Milwaukee's...

Commentary: Right-to-repair saves time, money.
March 20, 2006... Byline: Matt Moroney There's no mistaking the prevalence of lawsuits in our country. In the construction industry, the Metropolitan Builders Association has been doing its best to resolve disputes without the costs and delays associated...

South Milwaukee man prefers construction work in water than work on land.
March 21, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle We are used to thinking of construction workers riveting five stories above our heads, but Ralph Balde of South Milwaukee went the opposite direction.Balde, 25, works for Edward E. Gillen Co. of Milwaukee as an...

Aging Madison road getting makeover.
March 21, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Monona Drive turns 44 this year, and the city of Monona has scheduled some major cosmetic work as a gift for the aging thoroughfare. Strand Associates Inc., Madison, is on board as the chief engineering firm for the...

Cedarburg town, city fight over development.
March 22, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle The town of Cedarburg's plan to develop land in the Five Corners area for commercial use has ignited a dispute with the city of Cedarburg over zoning jurisdiction.The town would like to proceed with its Five Corners...

Wisconsin's Road to the Future Committee to meet for first time on Wednesday.
March 22, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Wisconsin's new Road to the Future Committee will hold its first meeting Wednesday, just one month after the announcement of its formation.The committee, formed by Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center,...

Cost of construction materials up, reports Associated General Contractors of America.
March 22, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Increases in the cost of construction materials outpaced overall price increases between November and January, reported the Associated General Contractors of America Chief Economist Ken Simonson.But despite predictions of...

Clean Wisconsin: Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act signed just in time.
March 23, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder A lot of people were pleased to see Gov. Jim Doyle sign the Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act into law last week in Green Bay, Katie Nekola included.But Nekola, the energy program director for Clean Wisconsin, said...

Opponents of Wisconsin's Taxpayer Protection Amendment join forces.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle A letter signed by more than 230 elected or appointed officials appealed to state legislators to keep the Taxpayer Protection Amendment from advancing.City mayors, aldermen, administrators and clerks as well as county...

Eminent domain bill awaits Wisconsin governor's signature.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder A new eminent domain bill is on the way to Gov. Jim Doyle's desk, and not a moment too soon, say state officials. Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager issued a statement Wednesday applauding the state Legislature's...

CEO of Ruekert/Mielke urges WI's leaders to work together to find solution to water situation.
March 24, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan William Mielke, president and CEO of Ruekert/Mielke Inc., said southeastern Wisconsin's local leaders must work together next year to find a solution to the water situation. If they don't, state government could take the...

New Wisconsin law allows state to fine plumbers working without a license.
March 27, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Plumbers working without a license in Wisconsin may want to check their bank accounts before taking on another job. Gov. Jim Doyle signed AB 750 into law Wednesday, and the bill's author, Rep. J.A. Hines, R-Oxford, said...

Mother and daughter enjoy Parents Day at Bradley Tech.
March 27, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Cierra Woods wasn't too cool to hang with her mom at school.Woods was in her manufacturing process class at Bradley Tech, and her mother, Trina Hawkins, was stranded in the hallway. She was knocking on the locked door to...

Aurora Health Care to appeal decision by Waukesha County Circuit Court judge.
March 27, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Aurora Health Care said it will appeal a Waukesha County Circuit judge ruling that upheld the County Board's rejection of a proposed hospital in the town of Summit.Judge Mark Gempeler on Thursday dismissed Aurora's...

Madison's Allied Drive neighborhood investment supported.
March 28, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz says he believes that a city investment in the Allied Drive could mean a world of good. Now he just needs to get the rest of the City Council to believe it too. Cieslewicz met with Allied...

WI taxpayer organiziation opposes school vote.
March 28, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle The Citizens for Responsible Government Network opposes the $8.765 million Fond du Lac School District's April 4 bonding referendum.After reviewing the proposal, the CRG network, a statewide taxpayer organizing unit of...

Milwaukee task force says affordable housing carries a cost.
March 28, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee's search for a new funding source for affordable housing projects found two different avenues.Either path requires changing state laws, enacting new fees or increasing city taxes."Almost any alternative that...

Milwaukee Common Council President Hines wants Connector plan to move forward.
March 29, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan Milwaukee Common Council President Willie Hines Jr. introduced a resolution last week that would advance the Milwaukee Connector project. The project's details are up in the air, but the Connector would basically be...

WI Gov. Doyle advances plan for ethanol gas stations.
March 29, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder The state Senate may have temporarily silenced the mandate, but ethanol's not going away anytime soon.Gov. Jim Doyle announced a new initiative Monday to bring more E-85 stations to Wisconsin as part of a $335,000...

Wisconsin right-to-repair bill signed into law.
March 29, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law Monday a bill designed to limit litigation between homeowners and contractors by creating a dispute-resolution process.Senate Bill 448, also called the right-to-repair law, requires...

D.M.K. Inc. appeals public bidding case to state Supreme Court.
March 30, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan D.M.K. Inc. is going to appeal its public bidding case against the town of Pittsfield to the state Supreme Court.The Oconto Falls contractor is contesting the Pittsfield Town Board's May 2003 decision to reject four low...

Industry favors Wisconsin pipeline safety bill.
March 30, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder While no Wisconsin home has blown up yet as a result of a sewer lateral drilling accident, it's still a scenario feared by the industry and lawmakers.And a bill to prevent that got its first Assembly Committing on Labor...

Gov. Jim Doyle signs lien law.
March 30, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle A bill changing the requirements for claiming construction liens on public projects was signed into law Monday by Gov. Jim Doyle."This is a bill that insures that contractors and subcontractors get paid for the work...

Uniform commercial building code for Wisconsin not embraced by all.
March 31, 2006... Byline: Paul Snyder It's one of the most succinct bills circulating around the Capitol, but it's generating a lot a discussion.AB 956, which would establish a uniform commercial building code for Wisconsin, was introduced to the Assembly...

Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage Districti opposes TPA.
March 31, 2006... Byline: Sean Ryan The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District is opposing the proposed Taxpayer Protection Amendment. "All of the sewer districts and sewer utilities have the same problems," said Michael McCabe, MMSD director of legal...

Sun Prairie's $60M school plan goes to vote.
March 31, 2006... Byline: Joe Grundle Sun Prairie Area School District voters will decide Tuesday whether a new $60 million high school is built.Currently, Sun Prairie has one high school that is projected to reach capacity - 1,800 students - in 2008. If...