Mayor apologizes after unannounced removal of historic commemorative bricks

The Muskego mayor apologized at the June 16 City Council meeting after public-works crews removed a patio of name-inscribed fundraising bricks outside the old town hall without notifying all owners. The mayor said the brick patio had become a trip hazard after years of salt, heaving and wear and that staff had consulted with the historical society, which declined to keep the bricks.

"I apologize for the way it was handled," the mayor said, adding that public works tried to salvage as many bricks as possible and that recovered bricks are currently staged at the old historical society site before being moved to the public garage for temporary storage. The mayor told the council the bricks would remain available for several weeks before the city disposes of what remains.

Council members said they learned of the removal through social media and asked when public works knew about the work. Alderperson Schrader, who serves on the historical society, said she had received no notice. The mayor replied that public works had been involved in a broader renovation of the area — including stair and site work — and that the specific plan for the bricks was a relatively more recent decision.

The mayor said some bricks were already unreadable or destroyed from weather and that a small number were chipped during removal, but that most deterioration predated the crew's work. Officials acknowledged the notification process should have been better and said they will keep salvaged bricks available for owners to claim for the next few weeks.

The council did not take formal action on the matter at the meeting.