Bradford Beach water garden moves forward

Hoping to renew interest in Lake Michigan and the surrounding natural resources, the Friends of Bradford Beach are continuing to work for support on the Bradford Beach water garden.

The water garden, which would be located on the southern edge of Bradford Beach, would allow water to emerge from an 80-foot deep aquifer and travel into channels on the surface. From there it would collect in something similar to a big puddle and submerge back into the ground to continue its water cycle.

The Lakefront Development Advisory Commission (LDAC) approved plans for the water garden at their Feb. 5 meeting. But the group still needs to overcome obstacles before getting final approval.

According to Deborah Lukovich, Friends of Bradford Beach Committee chair, the only member of LDAC who didnt approve the plans was County Supervisor Lynne De Bruin of the 15th District.

De Bruin is the chair of the Park, Energy, and Environment Committee, which the group has to go through to receive full approval for the project.

If the proposal if formally approved, then the group can begin raising funds of $600,000 for the water garden, which will be a 100 percent privately funded venture, according to Lukovich.

Lukovich also said the funds will go toward making the bathrooms located in the bath house functional for visitors.

Shorewood to go smoke free in 2009

Starting July 1, 2009, the Village of Shorewood will go smoke free including all restaurants and bars, the Village Council voted Feb. 26.

After what seemed like months with no decisions, the Village Council voted 4-3 to initiate the smoking ban in all public places.

Originally members of the council brought up the possibility of a sunset date in 2011 for bars, however that suggestion was voted down, Shorewood Village Manager Chris Swartz said.

Swartz said the July 1, 2009 date was set to give bars and restaurants an adequate time to adjust. July is also when liquor licenses are renewed.

UWM engineers helping Guatemala hospital

Engineers Without Borders at UWM is taking on a project to design and build a sustainable wastewater system for a hospital in the highlands of Guatemala in Central America.

The wastewater from the hospital currently goes into a local river, said Andrew Hable, co-founder of the organization. Our job is to provide a system that will make the wastewater as clean as is sustainably possible before it enters the river.

According to Hable, the group will be taking a trip in late summer to Guatemala to collect data, designing a solution during the fall at UWM and returning in winter 2007/2008 to construct the treatment system.

Engineers Without Borders at UWM is a non-profit organization with student and professional chapters nationwide, helping disadvantaged communities improve their quality of life through the implementation of environmentally and economically sustainable engineering solutions. This is the first project for the UWM chapter.

Downer condo/hotel can be built

Approving a new zoning ordinance for Dower Avenue on Feb. 28, the Milwaukee Common Council will allow for a new condo/hotel to be built.

The approval came a week after the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee were met by more than 20 people either supporting or opposing the development, according to minutes from the meeting.

In the final vote, the Common Council approved the plans 13-2 with only Ald. Joe Davis Sr. (District 2) and Michael McGee Jr. (District 6) voting against the development.

The hotel/condo, which will be located along Downer Avenue on the northeast corner of West Webster Place and North Stowell Avenue, is planned to include 52 condo units, 78 hotel rooms, 76 residential parking spaces and 112 hotel/commercial parking spaces.

UWW assessment to be completed before merger decision

Before any future plans of a university center at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha are finalized, the university will conduct an assessment to determine the areas educational needs, the UW Board of Regents decided at their meeting last Thursday.

A report issued on Feb. 21 by UWM Chancellor Carlos Santiago and UW Colleges/UW-Extension Chancellor David Wilson suggested that a regional university center would financially be the best option for Waukesha. However it did not say what would be the best option for the communitys needs.

Lets remember that the request from some in Waukesha County was for more degrees, more students, more educational opportunities, and more research, UW System President Kevin P. Reilly said at Thursdays meeting. Any expansion at that level of UW offerings in the county will incur some additional costs.

Other options for the community included merging UW-Waukesha and UWM or creating a new, stand-alone four-year campus.

> Comments