Local

MIDDLETON–Polco has presented the results of the multi-community survey they conducted on behalf of the city last fall to gather input related to the Middleton Airport Master Plan. To view final report visit: https://www.cityofmiddleton.us/DocumentCenter/View/9633/Airport-2021-Sur... (open survey results can be found in Appendix D).

Staff from Polco’s Research wing (National Research Center, NRC) led the creation, implementation and analysis of the survey. Households invited to participate in the survey were selected randomly from a US Postal Service (USPS) list of households in the City of Middleton, Town of Middleton, and Town of Springfield to respond to the survey.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Committee of the Whole or COW, which is composed of the Middleton Common Council and the Plan Commission, held a meeting Jan. 12 to discuss several topics which could have a major impact on the future direction of the city. The topics covered included holding a referendum to hire additional police officers and city staff, restructuring the city’s public transit system and determining next steps in the development of an airport master plan.

Police Referendum

MADISON–A Madison man charged with killing two Middleton High School students and a Madison student in a fiery crash last fall, was bound over for trial Jan. 6 on eight felony counts including three counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.

Eric Mehring, 31, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke entered not guilty pleas to all charges in his behalf.

In addition to the three homicide counts, Mehring was charged with three counts of second-degree reckless homicide, and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety.

Each homicide conviction carries maximum penalties of 25 years in prison and 10 years for each recklessly endangering safety conviction.

Mehring’s case was transferred to Circuit Judge Ellen Berz and his $75,000 bail was continued.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved two TIF agreements totaling nearly $3 million to assist with a new residential development and a large-scale stormwater management project. The council also rejected a resolution to halt all purchases of fossil fuel vehicles and equipment until a review of the city’s purchase policy is completed but directed city staff to work toward a plan to phase out fossil fuels.

The council approved an agreement for tax increment district (TID) #5 assistance with T5 Real Estate to help cover extraordinary costs at the site of the former Captain Bill's restaurant at 6100 Lake Street.

T5 Real Estate’s finalized building plan was also approved by the council. The developer can now apply for building permits to construct a four story, 65-unit apartment building.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved a concept proposal for a 50-unit apartment building at 6904-6908 Century Ave. The plan commission also approved the concept for a proposal which would construct three two story duplexes at 7107-7109 University Ave. 

Concept approval from the plan commission is not required for development proposals in the city but it gives developers a chance to get preliminary review of a project before creating detailed design and architecture plans needed for a rezoning request or general building plan, termed general implementation plan (GIP).

The concept proposal for the apartment comes from Madison Development Corporation. It calls for a 50-unit building, four story multi-family building stepped back to appear like a three story. 

MADISON–A formal charge was filed against Thomas J. Wilke II last week in the death of his grandmother Susan Wilke, who was hit with the door of his car and died on Dec. 2.

He was originally arrested for homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and a 10,000 bond was set at $10,000, but on Dec 8, prosecutors officially charged him with first-degree recklessly endangering safety. The felony charge also carries a use of a dangerous weapon enhancer. The maximum sentence if convicted is up to a $25,000 fine and up to 12 years six months in prison.

His bond was also reduced to $2,500, and stipulations of his release include: restricted from driving a motor vehicle, no contact with descendants of Susan Wilke and staying away from her residence.

MIDDLETON–Middleton Common Council Adler Emily Kuhn asked the City of Middleton to work on refreshing the “Welcome to the City of Middleton” sign, located at Branch Street and University Avenue three years ago. The pandemic delayed the plan, but Kuhn recently took up the project again and began working on the sign.

As Kuhn began the design, BSA Troop 140 member Devon Noak was taking up replacement of the giant “M” sign for his Eagle Scout project.

Sustainable U in Middleton

RICHMOND, VA–Middleton High School graduate Derek Hoot (’13) began his wheelchair career in Wisconsin, and now plays Men’s Division II basketball for SportAble in Richmond, VA.

Hoot’s latest endeavor is a podcast called “PUSH: Wheelchair Basketball,” which has quickly grown in popularity. 

“I wanted to provide a platform for wheelchair basketball players and coaches to share their accomplishments and stories. During my time playing at the University of Illinois, as well as Jordan and Germany, I met so many talented athletes with stories of overcoming adversity and thought, ‘why isn’t there any sports media dedicated exclusively to these kinds of stories?’ At that time, I had been listening to lots of NBA Podcasts like All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, or Pull Up Podcast with CJ McCollum, so I already had an intimate player-to-player interview format to model after,” he explained.

MIDDLETON–The Airport Commission is looking to Congress for $300,000 to add a tank for unleaded aviation fuel and acquire the existing fuel facilities at the Middleton Municipal Airport Morey Field.

Last month, the commission recommended that the Middleton Common Council “hold tight” on going ahead with plans to offer unleaded fuel at the airport but instead they allocated $30,000 for engineering fees associated with the project.

Since then, the commission received a $16,070 proposal from a Milwaukee-area engineering firm for installation of a 12,000-gallon double-walled tank. At their Dec. 3 meeting the commission conditionally recommended that the common council approve it.

“Owning the fuel farm is required for the city to do modifications necessary to add unleaded aviation fuel,” Davis wrote last week.

The insurance cost that would accompany the city’s ownership of the fuel farm would be about $4,000 annually, Davis wrote.