Experts Recommend Village Create New Utility Fee for Sewer Upgrades

Officials still vetting balance among funding, financing options.

What's Up This Week in Shorewood? District Could Take Next Step in Search for New Superintendent

A look ahead at the week's local events and news.

Here's a look at what's coming up this week in Shorewood. If we're missing something, you can add it to the calendar. Village officials talk sewer repairs — As the village prepares to move forward with its comprehensive plan to fix its faulty sewer system, officials will meet Monday night to discuss implementing a stormwater utility and financing of future sewer projects. Major improvements to the system could start as early as this summer. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Village Center, 3920 N. Murray Ave. (lower level of the Shorewood Public Library). School Board meeting — The Shorewood School Board could choose a recruiter to help the district find a new superintendent to fill retiring school chief Blane McCann's shoes, at a …

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Shorewood Patch Year in Review

The Best of Patch: November

A month-by-month look back at the top stories of 2011.

As the year comes to a close, we all tend to look back at what exactly we've accomplished over the past 365 days. Village residents got two pieces of good news from the Village Board in November. The board approved a plan to fix sewers and, in addition, approved a budget with the lowest hike in property taxes in a decade during the month.   Village Board OKs $34 Million Plan to Fix Sewers Saying they need to send a message to residents that they are serious about addressing Shorewood’s sewer woes, village trustees approved a comprehensive sewer plan with a $34.1 million price tag.  Give Thanks: Shorewood Approves Lowest Property Tax Increase in Decade Shorewood trustees approved a budget that called for a 1.75 percent increase in the …

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Shorewood Patch Year in Review

The Best of Patch: May

A month-by-month look back at the top stories of 2011.

As the year comes to a close, we all tend to look back at what exactly we've accomplished over the past 365 days. With the Sen. Alberta Darling recall effort in full swing, and Rep. Sandy Pasch announcing she would challenge for the 8th Senate seat, coupled with plenty of other local news, we were pretty busy at Shorewood Patch in the month of May. Here’s a look back at some of top headlines from the month. Pasch Makes Formal Announcement of Senate Bid Against Darling Dozens of people braved the rain at Whitefish Bay's Cahill Park on May 6, to hear directly from state Democratic Rep. Sandy Pasch that she is launching a campaign to challenge Republican state Sen. Alberta Darling for her 8th District Senate seat in a July recall election. …

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Citizens Group Raises Questions about Shorewood's Sewer Plan

While the group says it supports the plan, Shorewood Citizen for Responsible Government is concerned about the phasing of projects, and future trustees altering the scope of the project.

A local citizens group has some questions about the execution of Shorewood’s plan to address its faulty sewer system. Shorewood Citizens for Responsible Government says while it supports the long-range sewer plan — which calls for $34.4 in improvements to sanitary and stormwater sewer pipes and replacement or repair of private laterals, the sewer piping connecting homes to the village’s sewer system — it is concerned that changes in the makeup of the Village Board could increase those costs. “Since it is not possible to predict the actions of future Village Boards of Trustees, we seek a complete plan and all necessary permits for the plan prior to implementation of the initial phase of the project,” the group said in questions sent to the …

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What's Up This Week in Shorewood? Historical Shorewood; Turkey Trot; Officials Talk Sewers

A look ahead at the week's local events and news.

Here's a look at what's coming up this week in Shorewood. Historical Shorewood Tuesday, Shorewood will reveal the findings of a state survey examining the historical significance of some village buildings and neighborhoods and the potential tax breaks and/or grants attached to the sites. The Shorewood Historical Society will present the list at a meeting 7 p.m. at the Village Center, 3920 N. Murray Ave. Carol Cartwright, historic resources consultant, and Joe DeRose, survey and registration historian, both of the Wisconsin State Historical Society, will speak. Shorewood officials talk sewers The Shorewood Village Board will hold a special meeting Monday night at 6 in the Village Center, 3920 N. Murray Ave., to discuss funding of the …

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Shorewood Residents Show Strong Support for Sewer Plan, Survey Says

Survey of nearly 1,300 property owners shows that 78 percent back $34 million plan.

By a wide margin, the majority of Shorewood residents support the village’s comprehensive approach to faulty sewers, a new survey shows. The survey conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Urban Initiative and Research on behalf of the village revealed that 78 percent of Shorewood property owners who responded approve of the village's large-scale sewer improvement plan. A total of 1,295 property owners responded to the survey sent out in July, or 39.5 percent of those who received it. The survey has a 2.2 percent margin of error. Shorewood approved its $34.4 million sewer program in May, which calls for separating combined sanitary and stormwater sewers in much of Shorewood east of North Oakland Avenue, directing rain runoff on …

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Village Seeks Resident Feedback on Sewer Plan

The Village Board approved a $10,340 contract with UWM's Center for Urban Initiatives and Research to produce a community survey and conduct data analysis.

Property owners can expect to receive a survey in the mail soon, as the village attempts to gauge community support of its 10-year, $34.4 million approach to faulty sewers. Shorewood worked with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Center for Urban Initiatives and Research to develop a seven-question survey, which should be in the mail this week. The Village Board approved a $10,340 contract with UWM on June 11 to develop the survey. It asks residents whether they support the village’s sewer plan, whether they prefer to pay through property taxes or user fees and if they support the use of special assessments to fund some of the project. UWM's Urban Initiatives Center will also provide data analysis and develop a final report with the …

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Village Gives Residents Option for Ridding Property of Storm Water

The Village Board approves special piping that will be installed in the curbs near some homes during the road construction around Downer Avenue.

Village officials Monday approved placing a special pipe in the street curb as part of the $2.3 million North Downer Avenue road reconstruction program. Trustee Don Ford cast the lone vote against spending $84,000 to place PVC piping in the curb, and giving residents the option to make a lateral connection to that piping to remove storm water from their property. The board already has awarded more than $2.3 million in contracts for the reconstruction of Downer, and Trustee Jeff Hanewall said Monday's vote is an opportunity to install the piping while construction is occurring. The work signals the initial steps of the village's comprehensive approach at faulty sewers that caused basement backups after torrential July rains hit the area. “…

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How Will Shorewood Pay For Sewer Fix?

Property owners will see first big tax hike in 2015, special assessments not yet considered

Last summer’s torrential rains caused sewage and floodwater to back up into nearly half of Shorewood’s homes. Many of those homeowner vowed that no cost is too great to prevent a repeat of the event. Last week, the Shorewood Village Board approved a $34 million plan to fix the aging sewers and Tuesday night the board got down to the nitty-gritty discussion of how to pay for the work and in what order the projects will be done. The owner of an average house assessed at $300,000 pays $7,629 in taxes and a sanitary utility fee of $343. Property owners would not see a big jump in property taxes for the sewer fix until 2015, when taxes on the $3000,000 home would  jump $303, and other projects planned by the village would add another $107 in …

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