Local

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission approved a concept review for three eight-story buildings on Pleasant View Road part of the Greenway Center development. The plan commission also approved a rezoning request for construction of four duplexes and refinishing existing efficiency units at 7107 to 7109 University Ave.

A new proposal from LZ Ventures was presented to the plan commission for concept approval for three eight story buildings at the Greenway Center development on Pleasant View Rd.

A different developer previously proposed a 14-story apartment building on the site but was not able to overcome technical hurdles related to sanitary sewer connection, density of the site and construction that would not potentially disrupt the operations of PPD located adjacent to the site. 

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council approved the hire of a new city administrator at its regular meeting March 15.  

In an email current announcing the hire, City Administrator Mike Davis said, “Bryan’s references and background check were very favorable, and he came to terms provided by the Selection Committee in their meeting last Saturday.”

Gadow will start on May 2, which will provide him with four working days of overlap with Davis.  

Prior to his appointment as Middleton City Administrator, Bryan Gadow has served as the City Administrator and Economic Development Director for the City of Monona since 2019. He brings over 16 years of local government experience to the Middleton community.

Gadow previously served as the Village Administrator of New Glarus from 2015-2018.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton has narrowed its search for a new city administrator down to four finalists: Drake Daily, Bryan Gadow, Erin Knackstedt and Jason Peters. One of them will replace Mike Davis who is set to retire in May after 24 years in the job.

Drake Daily is the current village administrator in New Glarus, a job he has held since 2019. He previously worked as a management analyst for the City of Sun Prairie for four years. In 2014/2015 he was an administrative intern at the City of Middleton and the Village of Waunakee. He has degrees from UW-Madison and the Robert A. LaFollette School of Public Affairs.

MIDDLETON–After Lili Roden was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) 12 years ago the Roden family of Middleton began raising money and awareness for the disease, and in 2020 they were named a Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Fund a Cure Family for the southwest Wisconsin Region.

They never got to realize the honor as the JDRF Spring Gala was cancelled for the region two years in a row due to the pandemic. But on Feb. 26 the gala took place along with others around the state, and the Rodens were once again asked to represent JDRF as a Fund a Cure Family.

MIDDLETON–Michael Mounajjed is only 17 years old, but already the Middleton resident is running a successful company providing hardware and consulting services for cryptocurrency mining. Now the Middleton High School junior can add Junior Achievement (JA) Young Entrepreneur to his resume.

On Feb. 19 Mounajjed was the winner of the JA Young Entrepreneur Competition, beating out three presentations to take the title in the organization’s second annual contest. 

Mounajjed, who started his company, Calceus Trading LLC at the age of 14 began because a friend was looking for components to help mine crypto currency, specifically Ethereum. Because he was too young to trade the currency–you must be 18–he started up the business to help others. In the process, the teen has recorded $600,000 in sales and said he hopes to hit $1 million by the time he graduates high school in 2023.

It is Wednesday night, 9:15 p.m. I receive a text from my former co-worker saying, “CNN just announced explosions are heard in Kyiv.” I am in shock and ask for the direct link. His reply is simply, “CNN Live.” I turn on the news. I download the CNN app. I stand in the middle of my kitchen staring at the screen in complete belief as I watch on TV the capital of my country, Kyiv, being bombed. I know it’s only 5 a.m. in Ukraine and I know that my dad, habitually an early riser, is probably still sleeping. He is not in Kyiv. I don’t dare to disturb him. I continue to verify the facts, trying to wrap my head around this in complete shock. I try to go to bed because I need sleep to function, but I keep checking my phone. Before I fall asleep at midnight, I message my brother who lives in the Netherlands and get his reply the next morning. “The war has started. Putin is bombing our country.”  Another message comes in from my stepmom, Valentina. “Pray for our country. Fear and Terror.”

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–The Middleton Town Board Monday authorized American Transmission Co. (ATC) to use its roads to build a power line from north of Dubuque to a substation in the town.

ATC would use Timber Lane plus Airport, Old Sauk, Twin Valley and Rocky Dell Roads largely as return routes for semi-trucks hauling in construction material to be stockpiled on leased land in the Town of Cross Plains.

The Road Repair Reimbursement Agreement is similar to one the board rejected two weeks ago as it didn’t mention reimbursement for damage to guardrails on what Town Chair Cynthia Richson called “narrow, windy Rocky Dell Road.” 

Jon Callaway, of ATC, said hauling would occur during a two-week period this spring after load limits are lifted from roads, as well as a 45-day period near the end of the year.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–At approximately 4:53 a.m. on Feb. 27, Dane County deputies were dispatched to the Quality Inn located at 6900 Seybold Rd. in the Town of Middleton for a report of an armed robbery. 

An unidentified sole suspect entered the hotel and threatened the clerk with a knife. The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately six feet tall, slim build, approximately 160 pounds, wearing a white sweatshirt with black jeans and no shoes. The suspect fled the hotel on foot with an undisclosed amount of money.

If any members of public may have information related to this incident, they are asked to call the Dane County tip line at 608-284-6900. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

MIDDLETON-On Feb. 15 at 11:51 AM a Middleton officer was involved in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Century Avenue and High Road. Two police department employees along with the driver, 26-yer-old Sergio Vazquez Ramirez and sole occupant of the other vehicle were transported to the hospital for evaluation. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the crash. 

An investigation by the Dane County Sheriff’s Office alleges Ramirez was intoxicated at the time of the crash and he is tentatively being charged with Operating While Intoxicated-Causing Injury and was cited for Operating Left of Center and Operating After Revocation.

In addition to the Dane County Sheriff's Office, Madison Fire Department, Middleton EMS, and Middleton Public Works assisted at the scene.

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.