The Milwaukee Post

18 • Milwaukee County Post • May 12, 2017 By KATHERINE MICHALETS Conley News Service MILWAUKEE — Cost, efficiency and time are three important aspects for work- ers who commute from Milwaukee to the suburban counties for their jobs. With a shortage of workers to fill jobs in Waukesha, Washington and Ozaukee coun- ties, the WOW Department of Workforce Development Board conducted a transit rid- ership survey to collect data that could help figure out how to connect potential employ- ees with work and these three items were top of the list for many respondents. Laura Catherman, president of WOW Department of Workforce Development Board, said, "it's not as simple as saying we need to bring people in from Milwaukee." To better understand the decision-mak- ing process of potential workers, several groups worked together to collect the data via survey: Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, Milwaukee County Transit System, Metro Go, JobLines, Employ Milwaukee and Regional Transit Leadership Council. Surveyed on the transportation methods they use, 51 percent of the 279 respondents surveyed said they take the bus to work, while 50 percent take a car. Ten percent walk to work and in single-digit percentages people carpooled, biked, participated in a church ride share program, did a shared ride service taxi or used another mode of transportation. In each of the categories, 100 percent of the respondents said they would travel any- where from 10 minutes to two hours for wages that ranged from $18 to $22 per hour, while at $10 to $12 per hour, 48.8 percent would travel 10 to 20 minutes, while 25.48 percent would travel 25 to 30 minutes, 18.8 percent would go 35 to 45 minutes, followed by 15.3 percent for 60 to 90 minutes and 17.95 percent for 90 to 120 minutes. The highlight, according to the survey results, is that the biggest drop-off was at the 30- to 45-minute mark. Only 15.1 percent of respondents who are willing to take the bus are willing to travel 30 to 45 minutes for a $10-to-$12-per-hour job. Few respondents were willing to travel for more than 45 minutes for less than $18 per hour. When it comes to transfers, 27 percent said they didn't want to make any transfers, while 35 percent said one transfer was OK, 26 percent said they'd do two transfers, 7 percent said three or more transfers are OK while 5 percent responded other. Next steps Paul Decker, Waukesha County Board chairman, said the survey provides "the data that we have been crying out for." For instance, it will aid in determining what it would take to get workers from Milwaukee to New Berlin to fill empty jobs in manufac- turing. Next, the group will take the data and consult with experts in the area and present it in open house formats. Implementing a solution, or more than one, will likely take money. "We want the data so we can say, this is the best investment for you," Decker said. The solution, Decker believes, will lie with a combined private-public approach. Some of the other related issues being discussed include a lack of bus shelters, dependable day care that is convenient for the worker and technology that would allow riders to see where the bus is on the route. In addition to just getting the unem- ployed to jobs, Decker said the focus is also on developing them into better employees by helping them improve their skill set. "We want to take the barrier away from getting a job, and second, from getting a bet- ter job," he said. Email: kmichalets@conleynet.com Connecting workers with jobs Transit survey looks at transfers, wages, lengths MILWAUKEE — Guaranty Bank was closed May 5 by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which appointed the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as receiver, according to a news release from the FDIC. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered a purchase and assumption agreement with First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company of Raleigh, N.C., to assume all of Guaranty Bank's deposits. Guaranty Bank had 119 branches in five states, with 107 in retail outlets. The retail outlet branches will not reopen. The 12 brick-and-mortar locations in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota will reopen as First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company branches. All Guaranty Bank depositors will automatically become depositors of First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company. The FDIC will still insure deposits. Customers in the branches being assumed by First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company should continue using their existing branch until they receive notice that systems changes have been complet- ed to allow First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company branches to process their accounts. For a complete list of branches, visit www.fdic.gov/guarantybest-branches. Depositors at the branches not reopening can continue conducting their banking business electronically, includ- ing online and mobile banking. ATM machines at the retail outlet branches will not be operational. As of March 31, Guaranty Bank had about $1 billion in total assets and $1 bil- lion in total deposits. First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company agreed to purchase $892.6 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition. Customers with questions can call the FDIC toll-free at 800-930-6827 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit online at w w w. f d i c . g o v / b a n k / i n d i v i d u a l / failed/guaranty.html. Federal regulators close Guaranty Bank Aurora to bring together cancer treatment options via new program MILWAUKEE — Aurora Cancer Care has launched an oncology precision med- icine program that will help physicians and researchers provide more care options for patients whose cancer is resistant to conventional treatment options like radi- ation and chemotherapy. The new multidiscipli- nary Oncology Precision Medicine Clinic will be located inside the Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center. It will use molecular profiling technology to help patients explore additional treatment options that take into consideration the genetic characteristics of their tumors. The clinic will include representation from med- ical oncology, pharmacy, pathology, research and genetic counseling services. It will be the first facility in Wisconsin to feature Syapse, a medicine software system that brings together clinical, molecular, treat- ment and outcomes data to aid in complex clinical deci- sions and facilitate physi- cian workflows. The molecular genetic makeup of each tumor will be compared with patient outcomes, providing poten- tial insights into how cer- tain treatments may be more effective. Through the network, clinicians can see the impact of treatment options in a shorter time- frame as compared to more traditional clinical trial outcome studies. Syapse will serve as a "match-maker" for some patients to gain access to more clinical trials.

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