Milwaukee Post
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Franklin landfill sale approval seen as big step for $100 million Ballpark Commons project MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Board approval to sell the Crystal Ridge landfill to an affiliate of ROC Ventures is a major step forward for the $100 million Ballpark Commons project in Franklin, Supervisor Steve F. Taylor of Franklin said. "The Ballpark Commons Development is a big win for Milwaukee County financially, environmentally, and will greatly improve the quality of life for residents. For the City of Franklin, this is a game changer that will forever alter the identity of our community," Taylor said in a news release. The board approved the sale Sept. 28 by a 11-7 vote, ROC Ventures, led by Mike Zimmerman, has operated The Rock Sports Complex on the property since 2011. The sale of the landfill allows Zimmerman to move forward with his Ballpark Commons project, a $100 million development that includes a minor-league base- ball stadium, a high-tech golf driving range, and ancillary develop- ment including retail stores, restaurants, and other amenities. "I commend Mike Zimmerman and his team for enduring through this very long process and working transparently with both elected officials and surrounding neigh- bors to make this a first class project. I thank my colleagues for having the foresight and approving this grand venture," Taylor said. The project's construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2018 with the opening of the baseball stadium expected in 2019. WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST State achieves best tax ranking in more than 50 years MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin's overall tax burden, as a percentage of personal income, is now below the national average, and its ranking among the 50 states is the best in more than 50 years, according to data recently released from the United States Census Bureau reporting on state tax burdens for 2015. The report shows Wisconsin is steadily improving in the ranks of state tax burdens since Scott Walker became governor in 2011. "Thanks to our property and income tax cuts, we've made incredible progress in low- ering the overall burden for hardworking taxpayers across our state," Walker said in a news release. "In 2010, Wisconsin was one of the 10 worst states in the nation for taxa- tion. Through our common-sense reforms, we brought Wisconsin out of the bottom 20, and we're putting more money back in the hands of hardworking taxpayers." In 2010, Wisconsin was ranked as having the ninth highest state and local tax burden in the nation. According to the latest federal data, Wisconsin ranked 22nd among the states in 2015, its best ranking in more than 50 years. Wisconsin's rate of improvement since 2010-'11 was the third fastest in the nation. Grothman joins effort to legalize industrial hemp MILWAUKEE — U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, joined nine other Republicans and 15 Democrats as a co-sponsor of a measure that would exclude indus- trial hemp from the definition of marijuana. Industrial hemp contains less than 1 percent Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and was legal in the United States until 1937. It's used to create a variety of products, including construction materials, biofuel, rope, plastic composites and more. The U.S. is the only major industrialized country that cannot legally grow hemp. The U.S. is also the largest importer of industrial hemp material, which means that American farmers are losing out on potential profit to farmers in other countries like Canada who can legally grow hemp, Grothman said. "Industrial hemp plays a large role in Wisconsin's agricultural history, and legalizing it now will only benefit Wisconsin," Grothman said. Schimel appoints new State Crime Lab Bureau chief MILWAUKEE — On Monday, Attorney General Brad Schimel appointed Nicole Roehm to lead the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory Bureau. Roehm graduated from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a bachelor's degree in biology, and earned a master's degree in pharmacy with a certificate in foren- sic serology and DNA from the University of Florida. Roehm started at DOJ in 2007, where she worked at the Milwaukee crime lab as a forensic scientist in the DNA Analysis Unit, before being promoted to forensic scientist supervisor for the DNA Analysis Unit in May 2011, in November 2016 Roehm waspromoted to deputy director of the WSCLB. Roehm resides in Oconomowoc with her husband, Jeff. "Nikki's experience on the DNA bench will serve her well in directing the Wisconsin State Crime Lab," said Attorney General Schimel. "As advances are made in the world of forensic science, I am confident that Nikki will ensure our state's forensic scientists will harness those technologies and all support needed for crime scene response is promptly provided to local law enforcement across the state, to ensure justice is delivered to crime victims and communities." Roehm replaces Jana Champion as director of the WSCLB, who recently retired. Partially burned body found on the South Side MILWAUKEE — A 23-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested in the homicide of a believed male juvenile whose body was found partially burned Sept. 28 in the 1700 block of Grant Street after it was reported at about 7:40 a.m. Police continued to seek witness- es. Anyone with information is asked to call the police at 414-935-7360. Trial date set for man in fatal hit-and-run case WAUKESHA — A Milwaukee man accused of being the driver in a 2015 fatal hit-and- run accident has opted for a trial. Cole Shelton, 22, is charged with a count of hit-and-run resulting in death and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. A criminal complaint said a passing motorist told authorities during the morning of Oct. 31, 2015, that he had found a man in the road on eastbound Greenfield Avenue near Coachlight Drive. The man, Anthony Villari, 23, had no vital signs and several grievous injuries, the complaint said. He had two broken legs and a bone in his neck was frac- tured, the complaint said. In West Allis, police stopped Shelton's car in an investigation of an unrelated traffic incident there, but determined Shelton likely was not part of it. But officers noted what appeared to be human flesh and hair on the windshield and roof of his car, the complaint said. Shelton told police he was headed home from work on Greenfield Avenue and knew he hit something but focused on getting home, the complaint said. Shelton was expected to enter a plea Sept. 28 but instead requested a trial, which was set for Jan. 9. Afterward, his attorney, Scott Winkler, said in reviewing the matter with Shelton, there was an element he felt the state couldn't prove — a "gaping, wide-open hole" that meant it might not be in Shelton's interests to enter a plea. County African American Affairs director confirmed after nearly two-year wait for nomination MILWAUKEE — County Board supervisors said they waited nearly two years for the county executive to get someone to head the Office on African American Affairs. The board confirmed the appointment of Nicole Brookshire by an 18-0 vote Sept. 28 after County Executive Chris Abele's Sept. 5 nomination. The board twice formally called on Abele to report on his progress to recruit someone to lead the office. The board, led by then-Supervisor Khalif Rainey, now a Milwaukee alderman, initiat- ed the creation of the Office on African American Affairs with a 2015 resolution urging Abele to create the independent office to promote equal opportunity and reduce racial disparities. After several months with no action, supervisors again urged the county executive to take action with a compromise resolution authored by Supervisor Michael Mayo Sr. adopted in May of 2016. County Board Chairman Theodore Lipscomb Sr. said, "I look forward to the office's recommendations for changes in county programs and laws that disparately impact African Americans." Taylor 4 • Milwaukee County Post • October 6, 2017