Monday, September 30, 2013

Broker & Developer Breakfast Briefing - October 9, 2013

A Broker & Developer Breakfast Briefing will take place on October 9, 2013 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Ott Schweitzer, 616 Gateway Drive, Milton, WI.  Attendees will learn about the exciting development opportunities in the Crossroads Business Park and State Highway 26 Bypass area. 

Please RSVP to City Administrator Jerry Schuetz by October 7, 2013 at Noon.  He can be reached at (608) 868-6900 or by e-mail at jschuetz@milton-wi.gov.

Friday, September 27, 2013

City of Milton Agendas - Week of September 30, 2013

Agenda packets for meetings the week of September 30th are available and have been posted to the City of Milton website.

Meetings for the week of September 30th include:

Monday, September 23, 2013

City of Milton Agendas - Week of September 23, 2013

Agenda packets for meetings the week of September 23rd are available and have been posted to the City of Milton website.

Meetings for the week of September 23rd include:

City of Janesville Sanitary Landfill Policy for Deer Disposal 2013-2014 Season

The City of Janesville Sanitary Landfill policy for disposal of all deer carcasses is available on the City of Milton's website

Press Release - Indecent Exposure Incidents


Below is a press release from the Milton Police Department regarding indecent exposure incidents that occurred on Friday, September 20th. 


At approximately 5 am on September 20th, an adult female was approached in the 400 block of Columbus St. in Milton by an adult male subject who pulled down his shorts and began masturbating while asking her a sexually suggestive question. After the male had this contact the female entered a building nearby and law enforcement was contacted. The subject was not in the vicinity when law enforcement arrived shortly thereafter. The adult female stated that the male subject was white, average build and height, early 20’s, wearing shorts and no shirt. No vehicle was seen. 

A short while later, at approximately 5:15 am, a white male in his early 20’s approximately 5’10”, average build with a dark colored t-shirt and no shorts or pants was observed by a female employee at a business located in the 100 block of Front St. in Milton. The subject was observed with his t-shirt pulled up over most of his face, with no clothing on below the waist, masturbating and staring in the window of the business. After the employee notified the owner, the adult male subject fled to a dark gray/gold colored, 90’s era pickup truck, with no cap over the rear bed, and fled the area last seen traveling west on Ansley Ave. Law enforcement arrived shortly after and no subject was located. 

The Milton Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance with identifying this subject and/or his vehicle. 

Individuals that come forward with information that leads to the arrest of the subject responsible for this crime are eligible for a cash reward through Janesville Area Crimestoppers. Individuals with tips can remain anonymous. If you have information regarding this incident please contact the Milton Police Department at 757-2244 or Janesville Area Crimestoppers at 756-3636. Anonymous tips can also be sent via text to CRIMES (274637), then enter JACS, plus your message.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Update on Work Related to the STH 26 Bypass


Henke/Arthur Drive work will be to the point where the road will open back up sometime next week between Tuesday, September 24th, and Friday, September 27th. Paving is scheduled for this Friday, September 20th, and Saturday, September 21st,  (weather permitting).  After the opening, some sidewalk work and landscaping will still be required. Drums and signs will still be up, but barricades will be removed.

Mainline STH 26 South Bound lanes are progressing. Concrete pavement will be paved next week.

The intersection of Janesville Street and Madison Avenue will be getting a traffic pattern change early next week. A stop sign will be placed for southbound traffic on Janesville Street at that intersection. Pavement markings will also be installed. A message board went up September 18th to pre-warn of this change for next week. Right now, this is scheduled for Monday September 23rd, but could change due to the pavement marking schedule.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Milton House Twilight Tours This Saturday, September 21, 2013

Information is below about Twilight Tours that will take place this Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.


The Milton Historical Society will be holding their Annual Twilight Tours this Saturday, September 21st, from 7 to 10 p.m.  Tour a National Historic Landmark, the Milton House, by lamplight while retracing the plight of fugitive slaves seeking refuge with the Goodrich family. Ticket prices are $6.00 for adults, $3.00 for children, for this once a year event. After the tour enjoy our Goodrich Square Celebration taking place in our Tomah Room: Wine tasting with food pairings by Northleaf Winery of Milton, raffle items, silent auction, music, and more. Food and Wine pairings are an additional charge. The Milton House Museum is located at 18 South Janesville Street, Milton, Wisconsin. 

For additional information or to schedule a tour of the Milton House Museum please contact the Milton Historical Society at 608-868-7772.

Fire Hydrant Flushing Notice


Beginning September 23rd through October 11th, Milton Water Utility will flush all fire hydrants in the City of Milton to make sure they are in good working order and to help flush sediment out of the distribution system.

If you notice flushing in your area, you may see discoloration in your faucet water, let it run for a few minutes, preferably from your outside hose connection, and it will clear up. The water is safe to drink. You may not want to do laundry on the day hydrants are flushed in your area.

If you have any questions, please call the City of Milton Water Department at 608-868-6905 or
City of Milton Department of Public Works at 608-868-6914 (M-F 7:00 am - 3:30 p.m).

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

City of Milton Awarded $20,000 Let's Play Grant from Dr Pepper Snapple Group and National Non-Profit KaBOOM!

Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) and national non-profit KaBOOM! awarded the City of Milton a $20,000 Let’s Play City Construction Grant as announced September 9, 2013. The City of Milton received the grant because it was selected as a 2013 Playful City USA community by KaBOOM! on May 7 and will use the grant to build a new playground with community involvement.

The grant is part of Let’s Play, a community partnership led by Dr Pepper Snapple Group to get kids and families active nationwide. In 2011, as part of Let’s Play, Dr Pepper Snapple Group made a $15 million, three-year commitment to KaBOOM!, the national non-profit saving play by ensuring there is a great place to play within walking distance of every child. Together through Let’s Play, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM!, communities will build or fix up 2,000 playgrounds by the end of 2013, benefiting an estimated five million children across North America.

City of Milton Mayor Brett Frazier commented on the grant award announcement by stating, “As Mayor, it has been my priority, and that of our fellow Council members and Parks and Recreation Commission members, that we continue to strategically invest into our City’s park system. This grant is another example of how we can make Milton’s parks even better, without taxing residents to do so. I am grateful that Milton was one of 25 communities in the nation that has been selected for this grant, as it demonstrates how progressive we are as a City in terms of investing in our parks and providing a wide variety of recreational opportunities within each park for children and families to enjoy.”

The City of Milton applied for 2013 Playful City USA recognition and also submitted a Let’s Play grant application to Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM!. The City of Milton was selected to receive a Let’s Play City Construction Grant among the 217 communities that earned Playful City USA status in 2013. Playful City USA is a national program advocating for local policies that increase play opportunities for children. KaBOOM! created Playful City USA in 2007 to help local governments address the play deficit among children and it is through mayors, city council members, parks and recreation departments, school districts and community leaders that the program succeeds in benefitting children.

The grant will be used to construct a playground at Crossridge Park near the new parking lot that was installed to accommodate those who recreate at the park and at the Parker YMCA, which will be open this fall. The City of Milton is required to utilize the KaBOOM! Community-Build Model, which will entail the assistance of volunteers in the community. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact City Hall at (608) 868-6900. The anticipated build date will take place in May of 2014.

Unstructured, child-directed play has been proven to help kids develop physically, socially and cognitively, yet today’s kids have less time and fewer opportunities to play than any previous generation. Via Let’s Play grants and projects through 2012, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and KaBOOM! built or improved 1,154 playgrounds, benefitting an estimated 2.8 million children during the lifetime of the playgrounds. People are encouraged to visit Let’s Play at www.LetsPlay.com to join the conversation and learn how to apply for the various available grants to make their communities more active and playful.

Monday, September 9, 2013

City of Milton Agendas - Week of September 9, 2013

The agenda packet for the Plan Commission meeting on September 10, 2013 at 5 p.m. is available on the City of Milton website.  

No other meetings are scheduled for the City of Milton this week.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Press Release - Nelson Avenue Fire


Below is a press release from Milton Police Chief Dan Layber.


On September 5, 2013, at approximately 3pm, the Milton Police Department received a report of a residential fire, with visible flames and smoke, in the 900 block of Nelson Avenue in the City of Milton. Officers responded to the scene, entered the residence to attempt to notify residents of the fire and also made contact with the reporting party in the rear yard of the residence. The reporting party, Edward Berlanga, 22, of Parkview Drive, Milton, had observed the flames and smoke while driving on N. Janesville Street, stopped to report the fire, and using the garden hose at the residence on fire, put out the flames on the second story, attached deck as police were arriving. Police finished putting out the smoldering areas of the deck as the fire department arrived and took over the fire scene. At the time of the fire there was one adult male in the residence that emerged from the residence after Berlanga and emergency personnel arrived and put out the fire.

Mr. Berlanga is to be commended for his reporting of the fire and his active intervention in putting out the fire before it spread to the rest of the house thereby, potentially endangering the safety of the resident. His quick thinking and actions are well above what is expected in such a situation and deserve our community’s thanks for a job well done.

September Historic Walking Tours - CANCELLED

The Historic Walking Tours scheduled for tomorrow, September 7, 2013 and Thursday, September 12, 2013 have been CANCELLED.  

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Local Home in Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival Magazine


The home owned by Bill Wilson and Ethel Himmel, located at 417 E. High Street, recently appeared in the Fall 2013 edition of the Arts & Crafts Homes and the Revival magazine. The article features before and after pictures of the restoration work that has been completed since Bill and Ethel acquired the home in 1998 and the article discusses the history of the property.

The full article is available on the City’s website.

Outside Water Meters Available


News sources are reporting that drought conditions have returned to parts of Wisconsin, specifically in southwest and west-central Wisconsin.  Milton is currently considered "abnormally dry" based on the graphic above, and staff wants to make residents aware of their options to save money on outdoor watering costs.

Picture of an outside water meter
Residents in the City of Milton can rent outside water meters.  The rental fee is $10 per month with a $75 security deposit.  After the meter is returned to City Hall, the sewer charges will be credited to the water account.  The breakeven point is 1,700 gallons of water usage per month.  You will still pay the cost of the water used, but won't pay the typical sewer charges that go along with the quantity of use. 

For more information about outside water meters, review the brochure available online or at City Hall.

To obtain an outside water meter, visit City Hall (430 E. High Street) to pay the fee and security deposit and pick one up.

RFP to Provide Cross Connection / Backflow Prevention Inspection Services

The Request for Proposal (RFP) to Provide Cross Connection / Backflow Prevention Inspection Services is available online. All responses are due back by noon on September 30, 2013.

RFP to Provide Administrative Services of CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program

The Request for Proposal (RFP) to Provide Administrative Services of CDBG Housing Rehabilitation Program is available online. All responses are due back by noon on September 30, 2013.

Mark Your Calendars: Annual Prairie Seed Collection 10-19-13


Mark your calendars for the Crossridge Park Annual Prairie Seed Collection that will take place on October 19, 2013.  The seed collection will start at Rotary Gardens, 1455 Palmer Drive, Janesville, WI at 9 a.m.  The group will then be at Crossridge Park at 10:30 a.m.  Crossridge Park is accessible from Parkview Drive or Brown Drive in Milton. 

This event is held every year to collect seed to plant at Crossridge Park and other areas in the City to beautify the city and to reduce mowing costs.  This is a fun and educational event for the whole family.  The event is hosted by the City of Milton Parks & Recreation Commission in conjunction with the Rock County Conservationists.

If there are any questions about the annual seed pick, please contact City Hall at (608) 868-6900.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Press Release - State Highway 26 Bypass and the ”Move Over” Law


Below is a press release from Milton Police Lieutenant John Conger about the STH 26 Bypass and the "Move Over" Law.



Since the recent opening of the new STH 26 bypass that is partially in the City of Milton, our officers have been patrolling that area, and enforcing traffic laws, with an emphasis on speed violations. 

Our officers have reported that many motorists are not moving over into the adjacent lane when approaching the traffic stops. 

Wisconsin has a law known as the “Move Over” law. It essentially states that if a motorist can safely vacate the lane closest to the law enforcement vehicle, they must do so. Motorists are required to provide a safety zone for law enforcement vehicles and officers. This law also applies to all other emergency vehicles, and highway maintenance vehicles. 

Motorists that fail to move over contribute to the leading cause of on-duty death in law enforcement, which is traffic crashes. 

In response to these frequent violations and to enhance the safety of our officers, we will be conducting patrol initiatives in that area in the coming weeks. Motorists that fail to move over for emergency vehicles will be stopped and cited for the violation. 

Violations carry a forfeiture of $177.00 and 3 demerit points. 

We would also like to remind motorists that travel that stretch of STH 26 that the speed limit is 55, not 65.