[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6347035,"mediaKeyId","2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473","parentId",2246114,"title","Franklin council approves contracts, appointments and zoning updates; votes summarized","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",3154000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473&start=3154&end=3154","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473/thumbnail_3154000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6347035/Franklin-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Franklin-council-approves-contracts-appointments-and-zoning-updates-votes-summarized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347035-c7de49ee76419d7e4813f6ba79404a0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1774607573&Signature=BR1pkma~RxIPK9OkjA8QngaMEle2clZRWSTTLO1oGY9Z4bbyIBNESHSlPrdCXzq2x-yiKbPEJfHswG6xXHftI~yH4gAk3b821UW3pN8LxJBSfQ40EnXa-BFtgVbtYq92WvTd7CMl8FydE03sw-VYYgrd1e7U-GP~KsuyzFLhZAoDSYBXwwekA5k6xsi5ZU7lN0bw3IZXAzEY0O~smPESAwvjH4EEP6QugvXreKeNLePd9gkRukRmeQNvFVp8y3GxCLxkdbyMo5qm00HCgkOVNd8sj~bN6GI-W0yyAnQvEKqYYUObdyBAyvdB9Kc8e3sLlQzvXiK76~rOjPQzuwktGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Franklin, WI","date","2025-02-05T15:22:53Z","article","The City of Franklin Common Council handled a slate of routine and substantive items Tuesday, approving professional services contracts, appointments, zoning text amendments and other actions. Several items required roll-call votes; the council recorded approvals, a small number of abstentions and two closed-session votes.

Votes at a glance (outcomes and key details):

- Board and commission appointments (multiple): Council approved the appointment of Michelle Eichman to the Planning Commission (unexpired term to April 14, 2025) and several Economic Development Commission and Community Development Authority appointments. Vote: motion carried (roll call recorded; 6-0 where tallied).

- G1 West Saint Martins Road water main award: Contract awarded to Globe Contractors Inc., $501,977 (base + mandatory alternate 2). Vote: approved 6-0 (see separate article for full discussion).

- G2: Professional services contract with Graef USA for construction administration and inspection services for the S. 116th Street Trail project, fee $178,100 (resolution amended with minor technical edits). Vote: 5 ayes, 1 abstention; motion carried.

- G3: Confirmation of Michael N. Holz as City Engineer (public officer appointment under city code). Vote: 6-0, motion carried. Council clarified the role is a public officer (not a city employee) and that prior contracts remain unchanged.

- G4: Resolution authorizing officials to accept a conservation easement as part of an approved certified survey map and natural-resource special exception for properties at S. 20th/College Ave (College Avenue Associates). Vote: motion carried (unanimous when recorded).

- G5: Unified Development Ordinance text amendment to allow certain packaging/retail shipping services (SIC 7389) as a permitted use in the B-3 Community Business District (Prime Pack LLC applicant). Vote: motion carried.

- G6: Amendment to Planned Development District No. 18 to allow staff approval of minor site-plan amendments (measurable thresholds provided). Vote: motion carried.

- G7: Conditional approval of a lot combination (Crohn's Inc.) for three lots to be combined into one; staff cited existing nonconformities not created by the combination. Vote: motion carried.

- G8: Three-year agreement with the Southeast Wisconsin chapter of Pheasants Forever to conduct prescribed burns at Pleasant View Park Prairie (to control invasive woody species); agreement subject to city forester and city attorney changes. Vote: motion carried (unanimous when amended).

- G9: Addendum No. 1 to Infrastructure & Environment LLC contract for $2,500–3,000 for additional work; motion carried.

- G10: Consideration of an initial resolution concerning industrial development revenue bond (IRB) financing for a Peter LLC / JAX project (preliminary step to solicit bond proposals). City attorney and economic development director said the IRB is a state-created financing vehicle and the city is not fiscally responsible for the developer's borrowing. Vote: motion carried (6-0).

- G11: Agreement for professional appraisal services (Accurate Appraisal LLC). Council entered closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(e) and (g) for bargaining and legal strategy; vote to enter closed: 4 ayes, 2 no. Council reconvened and voted to proceed as discussed in closed session (motion carried on a subsequent roll call).

- G12: Motion regarding potential use of CDA property (outlet pond at 5400 W. Ashland Way) entered as closed session business; vote to enter closed: 6-0. Council returned to open session and placed the matter on file (no additional action taken at open session).

- H (licenses): Council approved six operator licenses (one new operator application held for discrepancy). Vote: 5 ayes, 1 abstention.

- City vouchers and payroll (ending 01/30/2025): City vouchers $4,220,706.62; payroll and associated deductions as listed on the action sheet. Vote to approve: 6-0.

Context and procedure notes: in several instances council members and staff emphasized that procedural steps remain for assessment decisions, conservation easements, or contract authorizations — i.e., formal public hearings, engineer reports, ministerial corrections or contract execution steps remain before final implementation. The city attorney frequently reminded the body that notices and statutory timelines apply, and that approval of a contract or preliminary resolution does not automatically impose assessments or create creditor obligations for the city.

What to expect next: staff said it will return with required reports (engineer assessments, public-notice materials, or corrected documents) where applicable. Several items (notably the West Saint Martins water main and potential special assessments) will require further council hearings and formal resolutions before financial obligations are finalized.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council Meeting 2-4-2025 - 6:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 4 meeting the Common Council confirmed multiple appointments, awarded professional services contracts, approved planning and zoning amendments, authorized prescribed burns and approved an industrial revenue bond preliminary step; the council also entered and exited two closed sessions.","taxTitle","Franklin City, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",55414,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6347040,"Franklin resident urges independent C-weighted sound monitoring at Rock Sports Complex",263,159000,422000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473&start=159&end=422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6347040/Franklin-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Franklin-resident-urges-independent-C-weighted-sound-monitoring-at-Rock-Sports-Complex","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347040-919589dac9962f324b57ab08018ddd89/orig.mp4?Expires=1774607573&Signature=UfHkNTnNjo5L6IujdXBHhtgKwKbAxWGj~pTzRout4x9Y43Bg8vixO0tQwnBeqOArXLOjXK1amD74SVT7gz2AiPD8W-IZEuktqPN4duYKheF3irk~EHNrnQxDcGMxLCoU7u95LHAVRxZZDVob~xmYrUfEpBr~Ja8UD8q7DOzYu39BUtynmOTAEKMQolRLWtvoAcMYtWEfWjuZp5uYpz8wd~gkQxcc0iud1EWG559BmwdTisCRXnGPUiQ2J7mlyEAnYIstSM6ZKBvbBVxP5LdZrCdorG-lhSop4Q5JF6FgmOWHX8vyqcwblPtuBZcy8fKrgDLGtWOrFnMsY-dO6cbFiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the public-comment period of the City of Franklin Common Council meeting, a resident identified as Dane, representing the Hawthorne neighborhood, urged the council to hire an independent acoustic consultant to evaluate sound from the Rock Sports Complex.

Dane (Hawthorne neighborhood representative) told the council she reviewed the Milwaukee County sound study and audio recordings and said the city's monitoring equipment and the police measurements did not capture lower-frequency sound. \"Low frequency noise is only measured by C-weighted decibels,\" Dane said. She said the police presentation in December had asserted there were no exceedances but that the police monitors do not record below about 74 decibels and therefore would miss the 55–74 dB range the summer concert series uses.

Dane also told the council she had collected roughly \"1,300 complaints\" and said monitors near past events had been turned off, citing an example where a west monitor was \"off\" from 5:30 a.m. until the next morning during Face Fest. She said officers who were on site did not file measurements or incident reports for excessive noise and profanity.

Why it matters: Dane argued the city's current A-weighted monitoring is not appropriate for measuring the low-frequency sounds typical of live entertainment and recommended the city hire a consultant with outdoor live-music expertise who can take C-weighted measurements, review staging and speaker orientation, and ensure monitoring devices are calibrated and maintained.

Council members asked clarifying questions during public comment. Mayor Nelson asked for clarification on \"C decibels,\" and Dane replied, \"C as in Charles,\" explaining that A-weighted monitors are aimed at mid- and high-frequency sounds, while C-weighting captures low-frequency energy that can carry farther.

No formal action was taken during the meeting on the noise-monitoring request; the item was presented during the public-comment portion and will require staff follow-up if the council directs it.","A Hawthorne neighborhood representative told the Common Council the Rock Sports Complex's monitoring system and police measurements missed lower-frequency noise and that an independent acoustic study with C-weighted measurements is needed.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6347045,"Franklin council awards $501,977 contract to install West Saint Martins water main, delays assessment decision",2518,642000,3160000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473&start=642&end=3160","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2246114-e9ab6409fb34761293caf81c0a434473/thumbnail_642000.jpg","/articles/6347045/Franklin-City/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Franklin-council-awards-501977-contract-to-install-West-Saint-Martins-water-main-delays-assessment-decision","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6347045-d6eced497078476c76a36d0421c3e188/orig.mp4?Expires=1774607573&Signature=nlNeSN-Yg4g~zc6ybwF3WW6K~Frc3WENclJoKfdgZ1wFTaxIgrPmYPC1cIUTs0lRiNKclKgKqOXQ8N5lKH9zLg-svSsjvuZqJMbvE2eDc6AqOogoh3psZT4wbQkDEVDUaY9rOJYCHpMedRLwq1qcIMLtTIdfEmr9qNfV7E47tQhvwvqpy~KZFU~UmiU4PDuCXfTAPXbHICqJEYAHPH7Xsg1YtCIRK9mY2vVLYjBihbnI0imxtKD2Jq2ZNXkCFBhOqv3ilAeH9wKagPrSwEdOTdK1K8nCq6xs619kNPMcFme9FcyDYXWSQ7s99P2zBWyXNw8Nx9uMIsOAAGhIlFT8-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Franklin Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to award a $501,977 contract to Globe Contractors Inc. to install a 16-inch transmission water main on West Saint Martins Road, including an alternate to install 13 water service laterals.

The action came after more than two hours of staff presentations and aldermanic discussion about timing, cost and how (or whether) the work will be paid for by adjacent homeowners. Michael Polos, the city engineer, told the council the base bid for the main was $417,977 and alternate number 2 — 13 laterals — added about $84,000 for a total award of $501,977. \"It's a critical piece of infrastructure that needed to be done ahead of the upcoming DOT road improvements at Saint Martins Road,\" Polos said.

Why it matters: staff said the main is a missing transmission link needed to complete a loop in the water system and to avoid re-opening a new roadway after Department of Transportation road reconstruction. Council members repeatedly cited time pressure from the DOT schedule.

Council discussion focused on who benefits and who pays. Alderman Eichmann said many of the roughly 16 adjacent property owners she heard from do not want to hook up to city water and are concerned about being required to pay. \"While it's great for the city for the infrastructure that the city needs, our job as Alders is to look out for the residents and constituents that don't want this,\" Eichmann said. Polos clarified the 13 laterals included in the alternate cover the right-of-way portion of the service to the property line; property owners would still need to pay to run water from the right-of-way to a building if they later choose to hook up.

City Attorney explained the assessment process to the council, saying preliminary notices sent to property owners appeared to be courtesy letters and that the formal special-assessment process — including an engineer's report, public hearing and formal noticing under state statute and municipal code — has not yet begun. The attorney described a range of council options when that process returns, including the possibility of assessing all or part of the cost, deferring payment, or not assessing property owners at all.

Key numbers and clarifications provided in the meeting:
- Base bid (Globe Contractors): $417,977 (engineer's estimate exceeded actual bids).
- Mandatory alternate 2 (13 laterals): about $84,000 (total award = $501,977).
- Earlier resident estimate for a lateral was $12,000; actual bids reduced that to about $7,500 per lateral on average, which staff said justified installing them now while the contractor is mobilized.
- Staff said benefits to property owners (e.g., fire protection and potential insurance impacts) and the final assessment amount will be part of later reports.

Formal action: Alderman Hassan moved and Alderman Day seconded a motion to accept the base bid and mandatory alternate number 2 and to reject mandatory alternate number 1; the council approved the motion on a roll call vote: Aldermen Pecarelli, Eichmann, Hassan, Day, Barber and Craig voted yes (6-0). The motion included direction that staff and the city engineer will return with materials for the council to consider the special-assessment process at a later date.

What the vote does and does not do: the award locks in the construction contract and the laterals' installation under full-time city inspection. It does not automatically place costs on homeowners; the council will separately consider whether to use special assessments, city funds or other approaches to pay for some or all of the work.

Next steps: Staff said it will prepare the engineer's report and materials required by state statute and the municipal code and return to the Common Council for the public hearing and a formal decision on assessments. Council members said that process typically takes up to two months once it begins.

Alderwoman Picarelli and others urged the council to act now to avoid higher costs after the DOT road reconstruction begins; others urged more outreach to residents before assessments are imposed. The council's approval was framed as time-sensitive to meet the DOT schedule rather than as a final financing decision.","The Common Council unanimously awarded a $501,977 contract to Globe Contractors to install a 16-inch transmission water main on West Saint Martins Road and accepted an alternate to install 13 service laterals now; the council deferred final decisions on special assessments for affected property owners for a future hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Franklin council approves contracts, appointments and zoning updates; votes summarized

Franklin resident urges independent C-weighted sound monitoring at Rock Sports Complex

Franklin council awards $501,977 contract to install West Saint Martins water main, delays assessment decision