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Practically Speaking

Kyle and her husband moved to Brookfield in 1986. She became active in local politics and started blogging in 2004. Her focus is primarily on local issues but often includes state and national topics, too. Kyle looks at things from the taxpayers’ perspective in a creative, yet down to earth way, addressing them from a practical point of view.

What a heartbreaker! Mayor breaks tie to move fire station #3

By Kyle Prast
Wednesday, Oct 3 2007, 01:44 AM

This is SO sad!

Tuesday night, 7, yes, 7 aldermen had the intelligence and independence of spirit to vote against moving fire station #3 to the worst possible location (my opinion), the north west corner of Calhoun and Greenfield. Trouble is, this split vote left the tie breaking vote to our mayor.

Since Mayor Speaker was the one who started this whole ball rolling, to cater to the night time residents (voters) rather than to the taxpayers, businesses and daytime population of our city, it was pretty predictable as to the way his vote would go. (It was a yes.)

I am glad there were 7 no votes though. This shows the council is breaking out of its former lock step mode and starting to think for themselves. Think of what just a few new faces on the council could do?

A big thank you to the 7 no votes: Sutton, Carnell, Reddin, Balzer, Jerry Mellone, Blackburn, and Lisa Mellone.

Sadly, my other district 7 alderman, Mike Franz, voted yes. Yes, to his own district 7 residents soon to have the longest EMS response times in the city. I sure hope someone is considering running for district 7 alderman next spring. We need another alderman who will represent US and our interests.

I was not able to attend the meeting, but Renee Lowerr was good enough to email out a short synopsis of the night's events. Thanks Renee.

She reported, "The meeting was well attended by mostly Greenfield Heights Residents.
Several residents spoke in opposition of Option #1. I believe that I was the only resident East of Calhoun that spoke about re-considering their FS move vote & rebuild at current location.

The meeting was very heated, very emotional, many ?s, comments...between the Council Members & staff."

She also added, "Four homes will be taken by eminent
domain. One on Greenfield Ave, one on Calhoun & two on Adelman Roads."

Comments

Cindy   

Yeah for 2nd district Alderman Bob Reddin!

October 3, 2007 6:25 AM

intewedm   

Gerald Mellone said there was no need to forcibly acquire the homes because there was an equally viable site across the street on a vacant commercial lot.

He said the Greenfield Heights subdivision, built in the late 1920s when the city was a town, was attracting a new generation of younger families.

"This is what Brookfield needs, not another strip mall," Mellone said, referring to a development proposed on the vacant commercial lot.

Now, if that's doesn't say it all.  Do we really need another crummy strip mall?  Not in a million years!  No one will shop there anyhow.

October 3, 2007 1:18 PM

My Two Cents   

Brookfield didn't get very good "press" on WTMJ this afternoon in their discussion of eminent domain. One caller said "follow the money."  Someone really wants the property on Moorland. I agree, Cindy, thank you, Ald.Reddin. Many thanks to all the "NO" voting alderpeople.

October 3, 2007 2:28 PM

Trish J.   

This was my response from last night....

Mayor Speaker:

I know the following:

    1. That tomorrow morning I will wake up being embarrassed to be a citizen of Brookfield.

    2. That I, nor my family, will ever endorse or vote for you or Alderman Franz again.

    3. That even coming from a firefighter family, I cannot understand the logic of the chief to feel he needs to displace families from their homes to build a new  firehouse there instead of across the street in a vacant lot.

    4.  That you, Alderman Franz, Chief Dahms will be able to go home at night to YOUR homes, to YOUR beds and know that it won't be ripped away from you even though it DOES NOT HAVE TO BE.  Guess having an investor that is willing to build a strip mall is more important to you than your citizens.

Sleep well tonight Mayor Speaker, Alderman Franz and Chief Dahms because the families that you are displacing are not.

Guess I shouldn't be surprised that I haven't gotten an email back from him.

October 3, 2007 3:59 PM

Practically Speaking   

Politically, the year 2006 was a hard one for me. Both spring and fall elections went to candidates I

October 4, 2007 8:13 AM

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