City of Milton Announces 1st Quarter Success of The Innovation Express

Mayor Frazier and the City of Milton Common Council are pleased to report the 1st quarter success of the community’s investment into the Innovation Express. The Innovation Express is a jointly funded bus services that transports people to the Cities of Milton, Janesville and Whitewater. According to Janesville Transit System records, Milton passengers boarding at locations outside the Piggly Wiggly pick-up and drop off increased by a whopping 411% with 435 rides taken during the first quarter of 2014 compared to just 85 last year. 

Mayor Brett Frazier commented on the first quarter report by stating "The Innovation Express was a priority for the City of Milton. Public transportation is an important component of economic and community development for our City and the Council and I felt confident that, if given time, ridership would validate our investment in the program. Obviously these numbers bear that out and we still have the opening of the Blackhawk Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center coming later this summer."

Despite a reduction in the number of trips due to the loss of a federal grant, the City of Milton was among the first of the regional stakeholders to commit to an increased investment in the service, and increased its budget contribution from $15,000 in 2013 to just over $27,000 to continue the service in 2014. Mayor Frazier traveled to Whitewater and encouraged their Council to continue an investment, and through the continued efforts of JTS Director Dave Mumma, the University of Wisconsin Whitewater has also continued to promote and invest in this regional service. The thoughts behind the regional approach to the service is that it affords all three communities the opportunity for people to connect to the regional assets and employment opportunities that each community has. Mayor Frazier went on to state "We can talk about the economic benefits of this service, but the Innovation Express is also helping citizens of Milton connect to resources like doctors and shopping in Janesville and education in Whitewater. I believed as Mayor that this service was not just a value to our employers, but also to our citizens as they seek to take advantage of the benefits of the high quality of life in Milton while still accessing the amenities of other communities."

City of Milton Agendas - Week of April 28th

Agenda packets for the week of April 28th are available and have been posted to the City of Milton website.

Meetings for the week of April 28th include:

• Historic Preservation Commission – Wednesday, April 30th, at 6 p.m.
• Zoning Board of Appeals – Thursday, May 1st, at 6 p.m.

Milton Area Veterans Memorial Brick Orders Due April 25, 2014

The Parks & Recreation Commission determined at their April 21, 2014 meeting that orders for bricks for the Milton Area Veterans Memorial received after Friday, April 25, 2014 will not be included in the dedication ceremony on July 5, 2014 at 2 p.m. Brick orders received after that date will be placed in late July. In addition, prices will go up by $10 for each brick size for all orders placed after April 25, 2014 in order to cover the additional costs to lay the brick after the official dedication ceremony. Below shows the prices before and after April 25, 2014:

On or Before April 25, 2014

• 8x8 - $75
• 16x8 - $125
• 16x16 - $225

After April 25, 2014

• 8x8 - $85
• 16x8 - $135
• 16x16 - $235

If you have any questions, please contact City Administrator Jerry Schuetz at (608) 868-6900 or by e-mail at jschuetz@milton-wi.gov.

Community Shred Day - May 3, 2014

Mark your Calendars!  First Community Bank, 202 Merchant Row, will be holding their annual Community Shred Day on Saturday, May 3rd, from 9 a.m. to Noon in the parking lot across the street from the bank.

This event is free.  Donations to the Milton Food Pantry are appreciated, but not required.  Paper must be dry to be shredded.

City of Milton Agendas - Week of April 21st

Agenda packets for the week of April 21st , 2014 are available and have been posted to the City of Milton website.

Meetings for the week of April 21st include:

• Parks & Recreation Commission - Monday, April 21st, 6 p.m.
• Economic Development Commission - Tuesday, April 22nd, at 10 a.m.
• Joint Fire Commission - Wednesday, April 23rd, at 7 p.m.
• Tourism Development Committee - Thursday, April 24th, at 8:30 a.m.
• Library Board - Thursday, April 24th, at 7 p.m.

Just a reminder – City offices are closed tomorrow, Friday, April 18th, to observe Good Friday.

City of Milton Ends Recommendation to Run Water

Effective April 15, 2014, the City of Milton Water Utility Department has officially lifted its recommendation to run a small pencil sized stream of water in your homes to prevent freezing. Water temperatures and the ground temperature has warmed up enough for which the risk of pipes freezing has been reduced. Utility customers will only get a credit for running their water through April 15, 2014.

We appreciate your cooperation with this recommendation, and again advise all utility customers to stop running a constant stream of water immediately.

For more information about the recommendation, please contact City Administrator Jerry Schuetz at 608-868-6900 or jschuetz@milton-wi.gov

City of Milton announces “Mayor/Council Member for a Day” program

Mayor Brett Frazier and the City of Milton Common Council, in an effort to engage the youth of our community in our governance, are pleased to announce a new youth program entitled the City of Milton’s “Mayor and Council Member for a Day."  The program is designed to be a hands-on experience for young children in grades K-6 that exposes them to government service and provides an opportunity for them to express their ideas, views, and opinions on the current operations and future of our community. The program specifics are as follows:

CONTESTANTS: Anyone in grades K-6 is eligible to participate. Contestants are asked to submit in writing and in their own words, their responses to the following two essay questions:

1. What do you like about living in the City of Milton?
2. What would you do to make Milton better?

The essay responses are due to City Hall by Friday, May 9, 2014 at 4 p.m. Responses should be limited to no more than 2 pages in length.

Essays will be reviewed by the Mayor and the City’s management team, and winners from the program’s contestants will be announced on Friday, May 9, 2014. One lucky winner will get to serve with Mayor Frazier for a day and participate in City of Milton management team meetings, sit in on budget development discussions, and get hands on experiences in tours of all five of the City’s service providing departments, which include the City’s Public Works Department, Public Library, City Hall, the Police Department, and the jointly owned City and Town of Milton Fire Department on Tuesday, May 20, 2014.

The day will conclude with the other six winners of the contest, who will serve with our Council members in shadowing our elected officials at their regularly scheduled May 20, 2014 Council meeting, followed by a pizza party for all the winners. For more information about the program, please contact City Administrator Jerry Schuetz at 608-868-6900 or jschuetz@milton-wi.gov

Our People, Our Community: Congratulations to Dave Warren, Elected Rotary's District 6250 Governor

On Monday, April 7th, I was invited to attend a community gathering of Janesville and Milton leaders at the Janesville Noon Rotary Club, whereby I learned that Milton’s very own Dave Warren had been elected to serve as District Governor of Rotary District 6250. Dave is the owner of Dave’s Ace Hardware in Milton, and is well known for his civic involvement in a variety of worthwhile causes in the City of Milton and beyond. His recent election to District governor is indicative of his commitment to community service and helping those in need. The City of Milton is lucky to have him as part of our community. Please join me in congratulating Dave Warren and his election Rotary District 6250 District Governor the next time you see him.  Below is additional information about Dave and his service as District Governor.

Jerry Schuetz

City Administrator

David Warren has been elected to serve as Rotary’s District 6250 Governor for a one year term beginning on July 1, 2014. As a district governor, he will provide leadership, support, and motivation to the 62 clubs within the district as they carry out Rotary projects and participate in Rotary programs. He will also visit each club as a guest speaker and also with their Boards of Directors. 

Rotary District 6250 consists of 62 clubs within an area roughly bordered by Illinois to the south, Minnesota to the west, and State Highway 26 to the east. The northernmost club is in Medford, WI. 

Rotary is an international service organization whose stated purpose is to bring together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. There are over 34,000 clubs and over 1.2 million members worldwide. The primary motto of Rotary is “Service above self."

Locally, Rotary clubs meet in Janesville at the Rotary Gardens on Mondays at noon and Thursdays at 6:45 am. There is also an Edgerton club that meets on Tuesday at noon at the Newville Culvers. 

For additional information on Rotary District 6250 http://www.rotary6250.org/. For a short biography on Dave http://www.rotary6250.org/index.php?module=cms&page=38.

City of Milton Agendas - Week of April 14th

Agenda packets for meetings the week of April 14th are available and have been posted to the City of Milton website. 

Meetings for the week include:

• Public Safety Committee - Tuesday, April 15th at 5:30 p.m.
• Personnel & Finance Committee - Tuesday, April 15th at 6 p.m.
• Common Council - Tuesday, April 15th at 7 p.m.
• Police Commission - Wednesday, April 16th at 6 p.m.

Please note – Milton City Hall will be closed on Friday April 18th in observance of Good Friday.

Mayor Frazier to Host Listening Session Regarding the Pursuit of a Business Route for State Highway 26

Mayor Frazier will be hosting a listening session regarding the importance of the pursuit of a Business Route for State Highway 26 on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 5:30 p.m. in the large group space on the third floor of the Shaw Municipal Center, 430 E. High Street. The discussion about the potential creation of a Business Route is in response to resident and business requests since the bypass opened in the fall of 2013. All residents and business owners interested in the creation of a Business Route are invited to attend. 

There is no need for an appointment to speak with the Mayor. Those who cannot attend one of these sessions may call City Hall at (608) 868-6900 or email Mayor Frazier at bfrazier@milton-wi.gov.

Those interested in connecting with other Council members are welcome to contact them directly. Contact information for each Council member can be found on the City’s website (www.milton-wi.gov).

For additional information contact City Administrator Jerry Schuetz at 608-868-6900 or by e-mail at jschuetz@milton-wi.gov.

Tails n Trails Dog Park Clean Up – April 26, 2014

The Parks & Recreation Commission scheduled a Tails n Trails Dog Park Clean Up for Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. Any dog owners or general residents that use the park are encouraged to come and help the Parks & Recreation Commission. 

Those who participate are encouraged to bring gardening gloves, dog waste shovels/scoops, and plastic bags for waste. Water to drink will also be beneficial depending on the weather. 

For additional information contact City Administrator Jerry Schuetz at 608-868-6900 or by e-mail at jschuetz@milton-wi.gov.

Fire Hydrant Flushing Notice

Beginning April 21, 2014, 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 between 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.  

Effective April 21, 2014, the Department of Public Works will transition into summer hours until Thanksgiving.  The hours will be 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Cemetery Cleanup Scheduled for April 16 -17, 2014

The City of Milton Department of Public Works will be completing the annual cleanup of the Milton Cemetery on Janesville Street to prepare for spring and summer.

The department requests that all wreaths, artificial flowers, and other items be removed from the cemetery by Tuesday, April 15th. On April 16th, staff will remove and throw away any disposable items left in the cemetery. Sheppard's hooks and planters that are not in disrepair will be left in the cemetery.  The department further requests that no new items be placed at the cemetery until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17th.

City of Milton Agendas - Week of April 7th

Agenda packets for meetings the week of April 7th are available and have been posted to the City of Milton website.

Meetings for the week include:

• Plan Commission - Tuesday, April 8th at 5 p.m.
• Community Development Authority has been cancelled.
• Historic Preservation Commission - Wednesday, April 9th at 6 p.m.

Milton Area Veterans Memorial Groundbreaking Ceremony

The City of Milton will be holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the Milton Area Veterans Memorial on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 9 a.m. (weather permitting). The Parks & Recreation Commission and several additional community volunteers surpassed their initial fundraising goals and will officially begin construction on the memorial on Monday. The Dedication Ceremony, the official opening of the memorial, will take place on July 5, 2014 at 2 p.m.

Additional information about the Milton Area Veterans Memorial can be found online at www.milton-wi.gov/VeteransMemorial. 

If you have any questions, please contact City Administrator Jerry Schuetz at (608) 868-6900 or by e-mail at jschuetz@milton-wi.gov.

Press Release - Vandalism Arrests in Milton

The Following is a press release from the Milton Police Department.

During the evening hours on Saturday, March 29, 2014, two windows were broken at the Milton Middle School building at 20 E. Madison Avenue, Milton, Wisconsin. School authorities estimated that the cost to replace the windows was $1,000. The Milton Police Department investigated the crime and subsequently received a tip from a subject that wishes to remain anonymous that a Milton area juvenile had committed the vandalism. Officers interviewed the subject and received a confession in which the juvenile admitted to causing the damage to the Middle School with another Milton area juvenile. That subject was also interviewed by police officers and also admitted to causing the damage to the school. The two subjects were arrested on April 1st and 2nd, and were referred to juvenile court for Damage to Property and Party to a Crime. As usual, the Milton Police Department is extremely grateful for the information received from the public that led to the arrest of these two subjects.