This is something I’ve been correcting people on since the Milwaukee County Parks Department won the NRPA “Gold Medal” for best managed park system. Managed being the key word.

Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee County Supervisor Gerry Broderick is responding to recent comments from County Executive Scott Walker regarding the Milwaukee County Parks system.

“Based on comments made last week to senior citizens and repeated in his weekly newsletter, Scott Walker continues to believe that we have the best parks system in the United States. In fact, the gold medal award was presented to Milwaukee County for its parks management, but this award does not mean that our Parks are in the best of shape,” Supervisor Broderick said. “If cutting dozens of County parks workers and deferring parks maintenance to a backlog of $276 million is his contribution, it’s not a positive one. The public needs to be made aware that his claims are fraudulent.”

Parks Director Sue Black and her team have done an amazing job in managing our parks system, and the Gold Medal award recognized their creativity. But, Supervisor Broderick believes that Scott Walker’s continued claims that Milwaukee County has the best park system indicate the County Executive’s clear misunderstanding of the nature of this award.

“Our parks are currently running on fumes rather than fuel, and the County Executive has opposed the sales tax, a dedicated funding stream endorsed by the public in a November 2008 referendum, which might have salvaged our parks. In its absence, our parks have a bleak future,” Supervisor Broderick added. “The quality of our parks is going to hell. Pretty soon, we’ll look like Gary, Indiana. Sure, Gary might have lower taxes, but who wants to live there? – Wispolitics.com

Sup. Broderick is the Chair of the Parks, Energy and Environment Committee and his press release is spot on.

There remains a lot of confusion about the staffing changes coming to the par 3 golf courses within Milwaukee County Parks. Here’s some facts about the par 3 system that didn’t make it into the paper or the breathless press releases from politicians trying to make an issue out of this.

I’ve verified the following information with Parks Director Sue Black, hopefully it will clear up some of the confusion.

In 2009 the Par 3’s brought in the following Revenues

• Noyes    $23,797
• Madison    $32,936
• Zablocki    $57,766
• Lake    $61,423
• Doyne    $28,644

· Traditionally courses do not open until the beginning of May. The Rangers allow revenue collection during the earlier months of March and April and the late season months of October and November.

· During league play, outings, and peak times the courses will be staffed.

· There will be no decrease in upkeep at these courses. They will be maintained as in the past.

· The program will be evaluated closely throughout the season and adjusted to make sure we maximize our revenue.

· During times when the iron rangers are collecting fees the courses will be monitored daily to check compliance.

· Iron ranger or self – pay stations are used currently at our dog parks, boat launches, and at other State and County run Parks and Trails.

UPDATE: I’ve gotten more details about the par 3 courses, including revenue figures here.

As has been documented here and elsewhere, some Supervisors are trying to score political points by criticizing the Milwaukee County Parks department for cutting staffing at par three courses (Doyne, Lake, Noyes, Zablocki & Madison Parks) even though they themselves have voted time and again for cutting park worker positions and cutting the Parks Department budget.

While traditional news sources have been unable to get a reaction from Parks Director Sue Black on this issue because she’s on vacation, I was able to speak with her today about this issue surrounding the cuts at the par three courses. When we spoke, she was unhappy the way the message is being presented by park detractors and people like Sup. DeBruin.

“This isn’t to limit the potential for income at par three golf courses, but to enhance it.” she told me.

The point Director Black is making that if it’s a rainy weekday in June or August, why should she pay someone to sit out at the par three courses? Instead it makes more sense to put rangers out at the par three courses on days which are nice and will generate income and fall back on the “iron rangers” to collect fees when that isn’t the case.

“If it’s a sunny hot day in the middle of July, of course we’re going to have a ranger out at the courses to collect fees” she said. “But if that’s not the case, it makes sense for me to redirect my staff to the places where they can be most effective”.

I’d have to agree with Director Black on this one. She and her staff have done an incredible job over the past several years with fewer and fewer resources. This latest move is just the latest in a trend of “doing more with less” and making sure her Parks Department is running at it’s most efficient. She also indicated to me that it may be time to institute some ordinance so County workers can ticket those who are using the facilities without paying the fees, much like we

One of the new "iron ranger" collection boxes

already have at State Parks.

For the record I was out at Doyne Park this afternoon to see what the new “iron ranger” collection boxes looked like since there was some concern about theft from the unmanned pay stations. Here’s a picture of one, and let me tell you, this sucker isn’t gonna budge. It’s solid iron and bolted into the cement.

As I said, I think that some Supervisors are trying to make political hay out of this. The rumors have been out for months that this might happen, but when you have elected officials in Milwaukee who put in part time hours for full time pay, what else can you expect?

Director Black and her staff have done a heck of a job pulling rabbits out of hats for the last several years, and they deserve the thanks and backing of every Milwaukee County resident who supports our parks. I know she has mine.

On a side note, I’ll be on Fox 6 tonight during their 5, 6 and 10pm newscasts to talk about this subject. Tune in!

From the “politicians who say one thing and do another” file: Milwaukee County Supervisor Lynne DeBruin (my supervisor) put out a press release today bemoaning the fact that the par 3 golf courses in Milwaukee County parks won’t be staffed this summer. The Journal Sentinal’s Steve Schultze dutifully copy and pasted her press release into a “news” item:

A new honor system of payment at Milwaukee County’s par-three golf courses aimed at saving money was criticized Monday as setting up the courses for failure.

Under the new system, the $7 adult fee for playing the courses on week days will be dropped into a black deposit box at the courses and those venues won’t be staffed Mondays through Fridays. Pavilions with rest rooms also will be closed at the par-three courses on week days, but portable toilets will be brought there.

Supervisor Lynne De Bruin said the change will likely lead to frequent instances of non-payment and run the risk of theft of the deposit boxes.

“We cannot base the county’s revenues on the honor system,” De Bruin said. “Everyone knows the best way to close a county facility is to depress its revenues.”

This new found outrage is convenient and utterly dishonest at the same time.

Back at the November 2009 meeting of the Milwaukee County Board when the issue of staffing for the Milwaukee County Parks system was on the line, Supervisor DeBruin sided with the County Executive and Supervisors Borkowski, Cesarz, Rice, Sanfelipp and Schmitt to get rid of four “Parks Maintenance Worker II” positions. (Amendment 1A063) Now she’s suddenly outraged that the Parks Dept. doesn’t have enough staff to man it’s par three courses!

It’s unfortunate that the par three courses are going to have be to on an ‘honor system’ this summer, there’s no doubt about that.

What’s even more unforuntate however is that an elected public servant would have the audacity to complain about the same staffing cuts to the Parks Department that she had no problem supporting a mere six months ago.

Over the weekend a story appeared in the Journal Sentinel outlining some potentially exciting changes in store for Milwaukee’s lakefront and specifically, McKinley Park.

The shorter version is that there are some plans being floated which would alter – and I believe would dramatically improve – the lakefront area in and around McKinley Park. The connecting bridge from Brady Street would be extended, a raised walkway which would provide better views of the lake and a circular open air performance pavilion right on the lake.

While the funding needs to be worked out before anything moves forward, it is a spectacular plan to be sure and a step in the right direction to improving and capitalizing on Milwaukee’s lake front.

I was able to get my hands on some of the conceptual renderings of what the results may look and have shared them below. They weren’t included in the JS article and really provide an important visual representation of what’s being proposed.

Aerial view of McKinley Park today

Proposed improvements

Proposed changes, different angle

As you can see from some of the proposals, the changes look impressive. While the funding questions need to be answered, it looks like some exciting changes for Milwaukee’s lakefront and it’s public parks are in store that everyone should be able to get behind!

It’s come to my attention that there are plans circulating which would eliminate part of Veterans Memorial Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront in order to build a parking lot.

As unbelievable as it may seem I’ve been informed it’s being proposed and have a copy of a document being circulated that shows how the War Memorial wants to take over several acres of park land in Veterans Memorial Park and turn it into a parking lot.

For those who are wondering, there is currently a huge parking lot in the O’Donnell Park parking structure which is located about 200 feet from the War Memorial, so your guess is as good as mine as to why the War Memorial feels it needs to go out and decrease the amount of park land in order to provide parking spaces a whopping 50 feet closer.

Below are some overviews of the land in question, including an overlay of where the proposed parking lot would go.

I’ll have more information as I get it, but Milwaukee County elected officials and County Supervisors especially should be wary about considering this proposal if it gets to the point where they need to weigh in on it.

Yesterday 76 more people in Milwaukee County had to sit down at the kitchen table and tell their family something I can’t even begin to imagine: they’d been fired.

The Journal Sentinel has the breakdown, including a quote from the administration (though not the CE himself, he was apparently at a campaign rally in Racine yesterday when the news hit):

Those being laid off are 27 security guards at five major county buildings, 25 parks maintenance workers, nine Mitchell International Airport employees, five highway maintenance workers and 10 other Department of Transportation and Public Works staffers. They were given two weeks’ notice. – jsonline.com

My best goes out to all of them. I know a few who were maintenance workers for the parks and loved doing their jobs.

After this round of layoffs there will be no more “Parks Maintenance Worker I” positions anymore. There used to be 45 or so of these positions just a few years ago. Heading into spring, the impact on our parks will be immediate and noticeable. These are the people who, among other things, empty garbage cans, plow snow, fix swing sets and make sure parks are safe for families to enjoy.

There are now by my estimates fewer than 60 people now available to take care of the 15,000 acres of park land in 144 parks in our County. If you were planning on having a wedding reception at some place like South Shore Pavilion like Jenny and I did, you may literally be responsible for making sure the bathrooms have toilet paper for your guests and the trash has been emptied the day before. There just won’t be anyone left to do it anymore.

The move will save a less than impressive $1.8 million this year, and I’m left to wonder why those being asked to make the sacrifices and tighten their belts continue to be the blue collar workers who are more often than not the primary bread winners for their families?

If the administration in the County were serious about tackling the $10 million budget hole, why are they only going after blue collar workers? As I’ve pointed out several times, why does the County Executive have both a “Receptionist” and an “Executive secretary for scheduling“? Why both a “Director of Communications” and a “Deputy Director of Communications“? What is really the difference between the two positions (and handsome salaries that match) in the County Executive’s office for “Director of Community Relations” and “Constituent Services“?

If you’re going to get serious about fixing the budget deficit, why not start with your own office first? Surely, consolidating or eliminating some of those positions would put a dent in the $10 million deficit just as well as firing the people who keep the parks clean, right?

If you’re going to get serious about fixing the budget deficit, why not start with the boondoggle of a payroll system known as “Ceridian” that’s cost taxpayers over $20 million to develop and after five years still isn’t close to working? How about getting rid of the programs like Ceridian which are wasteful instead of the people who take out the waste?

I could go on, and a lot of people who know more than me about County Government could as well.

To those of you who had to have that gut wrenching conversation about “what do we do now?” with your wife or husband or children last night, my thoughts are with you.

Read about what’s happening in Colorado Springs Colorado these days if you want a sneak peak into what Milwaukee County would look like if the “kill off government” crowd gets their way. If your tax rate isn’t the first thing you consider when choosing where to live (and most people aren’t) and you actually value a high quality of life where you live, it’s frightening.

No pools, no parks, no street lights, slashed safety budgets, increased response times.. it goes on and on. But at least they didn’t have to raise taxes!!

This tax-averse city is about to learn what it looks and feels like when budget cuts slash services most Americans consider part of the urban fabric.

More than a third of the streetlights in Colorado Springs will go dark Monday. The police helicopters are for sale on the Internet. The city is dumping firefighting jobs, a vice team, burglary investigators, beat cops — dozens of police and fire positions will go unfilled.

The parks department removed trash cans last week, replacing them with signs urging users to pack out their own litter.

Neighbors are encouraged to bring their own lawn mowers to local green spaces, because parks workers will mow them only once every two weeks. If that.

Water cutbacks mean most parks will be dead, brown turf by July; the flower and fertilizer budget is zero.

City recreation centers, indoor and outdoor pools, and a handful of museums will close for good March 31 unless they find private funding to stay open. Buses no longer run on evenings and weekends. The city won’t pay for any street paving, relying instead on a regional authority that can meet only about 10 percent of the need.