[{"_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",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6320694,"mediaKeyId","2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31","parentId",2355145,"title","Votes at a glance: Oak Creek Common Council actions, Feb. 17, 2025","audioSeconds",5061,"startMs",3109000,"endMs",8170000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31&start=3109&end=8170","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31/thumbnail_3109000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6320694/Oak-Creek/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Votes-at-a-glance-Oak-Creek-Common-Council-actions-Feb-17-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320694-01478a840f0ee4f18e319340d8952cc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1777111146&Signature=OG7ox0RzJI29s4iwNqNH5p0bijD1nrme~4gJsrq0lZhI-RNhhQdD1XQm1gRjuqfnT6Liifrs3MvIQyDUgEYlsQW43WrbG2nrFOwifkIVt07oXT~A4u~XIia7MJAvEOxFX7fy8q-9U-kyIOPBSoVrqXMsA0ebAFNJ~Bui0G0jswQaySDXgnDbkquPtqv984Ocu7yRdXR4kBbcMurkn6L2-l1PDmIBvdgNe2zy~-nzDCU4pvIfmALP4UGuBEVRWqLE-mPbaUXgJQg-v3lkv93ni26nDp1jA55kLzwRd8jdDuucxyf~JsvB3kryTmj1oPiIDI8LE22xBz-F40fY5M-Ysw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Oak Creek, WI","date","2025-02-19T19:50:32Z","article","This summary lists motions, resolutions and ordinances the Oak Creek Common Council considered and the recorded outcomes on Feb. 17, 2025. Where the council conducted a roll-call vote, the meeting minutes recorded the roll-call and an outcome; where staff or the planning commission previously recommended action, that is noted.

Key votes and outcomes

• Conditional use permit — Calick (Kallick) Building Services, 3834 East Pewds Road: Resolution number read in meeting and approved to allow permanent outdoor storage of shipping containers limited to the rear (north end) of the building, with screening and landscaping conditions. Planning Commission recommended approval at its Jan. 14 meeting. Public hearing closed with no public speakers. Motion passed by roll call (ayes recorded).

• Conditional use permit — Hounds Pound USA (animal daycare/kennel), 7126 South Millers Way, Suites 101–102: Resolution approving conditional use for daycare and 24/7 kenneling with conditions including interior-only play and sound-dampening walls; Planning Commission recommended approval at its Jan. 14 meeting. Motion passed by roll call (ayes recorded).

• Conditional use permit amendment — We Energies Elm Road generating station (conversion to LNG and CT construction): Council held the item to the March 4 meeting to allow staff to incorporate pending Public Service Commission and DNR approvals into the draft amended conditional-use permit language; no final land-use decision made on Feb. 17.

• Ordinance amendment — Chapter 17 (zoning and sign ordinance): Council adopted ordinance 3120 amending table 17.0304 sub C (permitted/conditional uses), section 17.0804 sub E (conditional-use procedures) and table 17.0603 (permitted sign types). The changes clarify several use categories, create conditional-use review for some uses, and consolidate a two-step Planning Commission review of conditional-use permits into a single meeting in many cases. The Planning Commission reviewed and recommended approval; motion passed by roll call.

• IT procurement — CDW-G networking equipment: Council approved the purchase of networking equipment from CDWG for $174,238.55 as a capital purchase.

• Stormwater WPDES annual report (2024): Council adopted a resolution accepting the city’s 2024 WPDES stormwater (NR 216) annual report and data submission; staff noted improvements in chemical testing, pond inspections and use of GIS-based dashboards.

• Contract acceptance — Always Contractors, Inc.: Council adopted a resolution accepting the contractor’s workmanship and authorizing final contract payment under Project 23003; a one-year warranty remains in effect per contract terms.

• Stormwater maintenance agreement — Lucy Meadows subdivision (9830 South Shepherd Ave.): Council approved a stormwater-maintenance agreement with 9830 South Shepherd LLC for the 10-lot subdivision.

• Enhanced surface transportation rehabilitation program: Council approved the program framework and financing approach, selecting Option 2 ($4,000,000 annual target), with an initial-year implementation practical limit of $3,000,000; financing to use general-obligation debt with a levy-exemption and a 10-year amortization period.

• Licenses and vendor summary: The council approved license requests listed in the Feb. 17 license committee report and the vendor summary report dated Feb. 12, 2025 (total $712,401.44). The vendor summary note indicated $56,305.84 charged to 2024 and $656,101.60 charged to 2025.

• Closed-session settlement authorization and follow-up: The council met in closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(g) regarding a claim from Richard L. Johnson for a motor-vehicle accident involving a city vehicle on Oct. 24, 2024. After closed session, the council authorized settlement of the claim upon receipt of signed release documentation.

Reference notes

All votes and ordinance/resolution numbers reported here are taken from the Feb. 17 meeting record as read into the public record; where the transcript provided an exact number or phrasing, that text is used verbatim. If an item was read into the record without further numeric detail in the transcript, the summary marks those fields as not specified and relies on the council minutes for formal record-keeping.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Common Council February 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Summaries of formal motions and roll-call actions taken by the Oak Creek Common Council at its Feb. 17 meeting, including conditional-use permits, ordinance amendments and contract approvals.","taxTitle","Oak Creek, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin","taxId",66971,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320698,"Oak Creek council approves $4 million annual road-repair program, to begin scaling in 2026",2547,5353000,7900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31&start=5353&end=7900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31/thumbnail_5353000.jpg","/articles/6320698/Oak-Creek/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/Oak-Creek-council-approves-4-million-annual-road-repair-program-to-begin-scaling-in-2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320698-3c2dbc9b8ca394e0fa4d9c72af56cc0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1777111146&Signature=kMu6Rl2tv~oeOyKTPERuMYOegiG5qO8hDFQzh7vaRjqg96J8uP-aHtqgCtC41M6Rqg422jU9lvc5bOR2-3osz2G8ettu~4jHlp86rhzIQsuYs86hdD2hLL-YIR7m5ELgiUBhtJIfJX-6viZ51IrG9TL0Uo~EEeLx1icH9TYOSVjFp2lx~xSh4QS5Q9zRQAL4RcjGYiM86IMLZnnzssz85aQPKgkdxSh2eDf0aX~g8lC6nS71swrgILfSItHeeWHtfrueOs7uBj-4oKCwsbVU3MluywbS62eSHd3jFv11wYC~BJBeRn5QfKsuqOGYV80pHrV3HKM8GmQKoH8YCYmnRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oak Creek Common Council voted Feb. 17 to adopt an enhanced surface transportation rehabilitation program aimed at addressing a backlog of road, sidewalk and trail maintenance across the city. The council approved Option 2, a $4 million-per-year program to be phased in beginning 2026; staff said design and project-delivery capacity will result in a $3 million start in the first year.

Matt Sullivan, assistant city administrator and the city engineer, presented condition and funding analysis showing the city maintains about 145 center lane miles and that current funding covers roughly three lane miles per year. Sullivan and other staff said current cash budgets and past funding practices left the city’s pavement condition at a mid-range PASER score that requires a more aggressive, sustained program to avoid further system-wide deterioration.

Max Hagen, deputy city administrator and finance officer, outlined the financial approach: the city would issue general-obligation debt, take a levy-exemption for debt service, and use the scheduled closure of Tax Increment District (TID) 7 to offset the first-year levy impact. Hagen and his municipal advisor modeled both $3 million- and $4 million-per-year scenarios, amortized over 10 years to limit interest costs and to align with the city’s debt-management goals.

“We did look at a $4 million option,” Hagen said, and staff recommended starting the program this year with a $3 million issuance for year one because engineering capacity limits the amount of work the city can deliver immediately. He also said the median homeowner would see a modest annual tax impact under either scenario — roughly $20 to $30 per year averaged over the 10-year ramp-up, depending on the option chosen.

Council members voiced support for the larger program. Alderman Krakowski said the community had strongly supported the public-safety staffing program adopted in 2024 and took a similar view of roads: “I am in favor of the $4,000,000 plan,” he said on the record.

The council’s motion approved a structure that will use general-obligation borrowing and a 10-year amortization, with the first-year issuance at $3 million (design/delivery capacity) and the program target rising to $4 million annually thereafter. Staff said the borrowing plan spreads the tax impact over 10 years and allows the city to reallocate $1 million of cash capital in the 2025 CIP to other projects. The motion carried by roll call.

Why it matters

Council members and staff described the vote as a step to reverse long-term underfunding of maintenance and to improve the condition and safety of local streets, sidewalks and trails. The program funds a mix of preventative maintenance and targeted rehabilitation and is intended to reduce longer-term reconstruction costs by addressing roads before they fail.

Key points and next steps

• City scope and condition: staff said the city manages approximately 145 center lane miles; current funding (about $1 million/year) was described as sufficient for roughly three lane miles per year and produces a system-average PASER rating near 6.

• Funding mechanics: the city will issue general-obligation debt, use a levy exemption (debt service) and amortize principal over 10 years to limit credit and taxpayer impacts.

• Implementation sequencing: staff said engineering capacity limits first-year deliverables to roughly $3 million of work; the council authorized an annual program target of $4 million after ramp-up.

• Neighborhood impacts: staff described program benefits for both collector routes and subdivision streets and said a planned public communications effort will explain project selection and timing to residents.

Staff will return with project lists and debt issuance paperwork; the council’s vote authorizes the program framework and the financing approach required to implement it.","The Common Council approved an enhanced surface transportation rehabilitation program, selecting a $4 million annual funding target and a 10-year financing plan using general-obligation debt. Staff will begin program implementation with $3 million in year one due to design capacity limits.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6320702,"We Energies presents Elm Road conversion to LNG and five gas turbines; Oak Creek council pauses action",0,6481000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31&start=6481&end=6481","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2355145-cba34bb83f964e12907478363a462b31/thumbnail_6481000.jpg","/articles/6320702/Oak-Creek/Milwaukee-County/Wisconsin/We-Energies-presents-Elm-Road-conversion-to-LNG-and-five-gas-turbines-Oak-Creek-council-pauses-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6320702-3de4c03026c5f3719bf920f8af5bc58d/orig.mp4?Expires=1777111146&Signature=WogQVI1E5a-6Xh7VGvZs15yJxmtnK0~QKcftmfRtwurbiUtyaLOrlPsvNa39SKkFd3dx36ZfGeduzsaUKY-v1qxuIT8W0zmij9cr7JIbrsAjCmLpmzjaMsuVZA3GRGjw267mlvTkqjN1ciaFNER8sYcta7ejH-B7KZ9iSyLpqjPwjK-6yUBPo8KCrmCW~UFIWWVcEKBwBy2PwAx3RtmlfBERHwIWvACbN4EilN4va2gBx7v8-PsNnBRmhDKuz7f4Go3TNcjkILaklHdINgemlyBODoaBfNIiB5GX-HEE27DTri-Py4ea8gMhHs4hXSyllRzv8z5qrWVKlXFfJmPwMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","We Energies representatives on Feb. 17 presented a multi-part plan to convert coal operations at the Elm Road generating station in Oak Creek to natural gas and to build a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and liquefaction facility, then asked the Common Council to hold action while pending state approvals proceed.

The presentation described a plan to add five General Electric 7F combustion turbines with roughly 1,100 megawatts of combined capacity and a new, 2-billion-cubic-foot LNG storage tank on the Elm Road campus. Jennifer Bogner, director of local affairs for We Energies, said federal and regional rules are driving the project, including recent Environmental Protection Agency and regional-grid changes that require more seasonal and fast-start capacity.

“...the EPA now has a rule. We have to get out of the coal business,” Bogner said, adding the company is also investing in renewables and storage to reduce emissions over time.

Project manager Rick O’Connor described technical elements and timing, saying the combustion-turbine installation would be placed in an open field inside the existing rail loop and that the five turbines would be roughly 1,100 megawatts total. “There will be 5 stacks, 1 for each unit. Each stack is 90 feet high,” O’Connor said. He said the CT project cost is about $1.2 billion and the LNG project cost about $456 million. The company said construction could begin this summer, with the first turbine online by the end of 2027 and full operation by summer 2028.

O’Connor explained the LNG system would liquefy pipeline gas (cooling it to about minus 260 degrees) for storage and vaporize it back to pipeline gas when needed. He said the proposed storage tank would be 206 feet in diameter and about 170 feet tall and that a smaller LNG tank has been at Elm Road since 1965.

Christie Lane, Oak Creek’s community development director, said the item requires an amendment of the plant’s existing conditional use permit and that the Planning Commission recommended approval in January. Lane and city staff then asked the council to hold formal action while We Energies’ applications with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources complete their review. A staff member asked council to consider a brief hold to allow those external approvals to be referenced precisely in the city’s conditional-use amendment language.

The council voted to hold consideration of the resolution to the March 4 council meeting so staff can incorporate PSC and DNR outcomes into the city’s permit language. The public hearing drew no public comment during the three calls for speakers.

What was discussed and what is pending

• Project scope: conversion of existing Elm Road coal operations to natural gas, installation of five GE 7F combustion turbines (approximately 1,100 MW) and construction of a 2 BCF LNG storage tank plus liquefaction/vaporization equipment.

• Costs and schedule: We Energies representatives reported capital costs of roughly $1.2 billion for the combustion-turbine scope and $456 million for the LNG facility; construction was described as starting as soon as approvals and permitting allow, with incremental in-service dates beginning late 2027 and continuing into 2028.

• Environmental and operational notes: company representatives said emissions from the new gas-fired units would meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards and be significantly cleaner than coal operations; plant cooling will remain once-through Lake Michigan intake.

• Council action: staff requested and the council approved a motion to hold formal action on the city’s conditional-use amendment until the March 4 meeting to ensure the permit language aligns with PSC and DNR approvals.

Why it matters

The Elm Road site is one of the state’s largest generation complexes and the company’s proposal would substantially change local fuel handling and generation equipment. The council did not approve the conditional-use amendment on Feb. 17; the project still requires state-level approvals and a revised city permit that staff said should explicitly reference those external decisions.

Next steps

The council will reconvene the conditional-use item at its March 4 meeting; staff said they will update the draft conditions and restrictions in the amended conditional-use permit to reflect PSC and DNR approvals, if any. We Energies and city staff said they will hold public PSC meetings the PSC schedules as part of their state review process.

","We Energies outlined plans to convert Elm Road generating units from coal to natural gas, add five GE combustion turbines and a 2-billion-cubic-foot LNG tank. The Common Council held a decision until PSC and DNR approvals are further along.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Oak Creek Common Council actions, Feb. 17, 2025

Oak Creek council approves $4 million annual road-repair program, to begin scaling in 2026

We Energies presents Elm Road conversion to LNG and five gas turbines; Oak Creek council pauses action