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Road crew crash, life saving tool

City of Racine declares snow emergency from Sunday to Tuesday

From The Journal Times.com:

Milana Doné

RACINE — The city's Commissioner of Public Works has declared a snow emergency effective from 3 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.

According to a City of Racine news release, the declaration is meant to aid the snow removal operations.

No parking will be permitted on either side of the city's arterial or collector streets. Alternate side parking will be in effect from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. per city ordinance. 

Parking restrictions will allow crews to remove as much snow as possible from city streets, the release said. Vehicles parked in violation of these restrictions will be ticketed and subject to towing.

An outline of the Snow Emergency Parking Restrictions and list of affected streets can be found at https://cityofracinewi.gov/publicworks/snowemergency/.

According to meteorologist Benjamin Sheppard at the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan station, some of the predictions regarding the incoming snow storm have shifted from yesterday.

The system is still expected to begin with rain and could bring a wintry mix as it transitions to accumulating snowfall. However, it will take longer to reach the Racine and Kenosha areas than originally predicted.

A wintry mix and rain will reach southeast Wisconsin by Sunday morning. Some thunder and hail are possible Sunday morning as well.

Coming from central Wisconsin, the snow front will reach Racine and Kenosha areas between 7 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday.

Snow will begin accumulating then and keep falling into Monday morning. Lighter accumulations will occur Monday afternoon.

Most of the snow accumulation will happen six to 12 hours after the snow starts, Sheppard said.

Because it will take longer than originally predicted for the snow front to reach southeast Wisconsin, total accumulations for Racine and Kenosha are down from prior estimates. They are now 3-6 inches.

By midday Sunday, Racine and Kenosha could see wind gusts of up to 35 mph. Sunday night gusts may reach upwards of 45 mph.

 Recent stories by Racine Journal Times reporter Milana Doné

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/weather/article_74d57216-e02e-46f0-ae48-e598531c952d.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Your local TV meteorologist is not judged by the accuracy of his/her forecasts, but by the ratings that he/she generates.  Thus we have the shouting and foaming at the mouth and the inane warnings about future events that they have little knowledge of.  I've seen the city of Racine needlessly shut down a number of times due to these faulty forecasters.  I spent my final years on the job outdoors, in the landscape.  I learned to trust my own instincts rather than the babbling of some shill on the TV or radio.

Racine woman misses work as car remains frozen in ice block

Racine residents express frustration to alders about snow removal efforts

From The Journal Times.com:

Holly Gilvary

RACINE — Following nearly a foot snowfall last weekend in Racine, some residents say they feel the city did not act fast enough to plow residential roads.

Alice Erven, who lives on Chatham Street, said at Tuesday's Common Council meeting that snow removal occurred after the wet snow "had frozen into ice boulders at the apron of everyone's driveways and (was) turning streets to ice."

"While I appreciate the hard-working snowplow drivers for their tireless work during a holiday weekend, I have no patience for the departmental leadership's handling of what did and did not count as a priority," Erven said.

Karen Briwicic said she and her neighbors were left "stranded" on their street from the snowfall and that she called her alder, Grace Allen, for assistance.

"I literally never have, in all my years, had to call my alderman, and thankfully, Grace came through and actually assisted us," Briwicic said. "I want you all to think of the citizens. We don't all live on main streets; the majority of residents of this city live on a side street. So how are we all going to come together and make sure that we can have these streets plowed in a proper manner?"

Alder Henry Perez said he received several calls and texts from constituents about snow removal and the issue "created some difficult situations for our constituents," but "as a member of the Public Works Committee for the last 10 years, I assure you that this comes up almost every year."

"We reexamine the plan, we look at it again, we have advice. We changed and tweaked some things — but it's really difficult to handle a one-foot snowfall," he said. "Were there shortcomings? Absolutely … some people were hurt, but overall, people were thankful. The calls I got were all thanking me for having Public Works do such a good job as they did."

Perez added that Racine Public Works employees covered more than 300 miles in plowing within 48 hours.

Alder Nathan Pabon concurred that while Public Works employees' work "wasn't perfect … they were out there doing their job, working hard."

"When the time does come to reevaluate and discuss this, I hope that constituents and alders alike will show up to those meetings and express their concerns and work really collaboratively to put a better plan in place for that," he said.

Amended 2026 meeting dates

Also on Tuesday, the Common Council voted to approve its 2026 meeting dates, along with an amendment from Pabon to add Jan. 6 and July 7 to the schedule to make up for reduced meetings during election months.

"This proposed calendar takes into account that this coming year is a very heavy election year, and I understand the lighter schedule in those months, but I think because we are having a lighter schedule in February, April, August and November, that it is incumbent upon us to make sure that we are going through our legislative duty as thoroughly as possible," Pabon said.

With Pabon's amendments, the council will meet on the following dates: Jan. 6, Jan. 20, Feb. 3, March 3, March 17, April 20, April 21, May 5, May 19, June 6, June 20, July 7, July 21, Aug. 5, Sept. 8, Sept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

The council also approved requests that the Public Works and Services Committee, Finance and Personnel Committee, and Public Safety and Licensing Committee maintain their current meeting dates and times for 2026.

Public Works and Services meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays the week prior to the scheduled Common Council meeting; Finance and Personnel meets at 5:30 p.m. Mondays the week prior to the scheduled Common Council meeting; and Public Safety and Licensing meets at 5 p.m. Wednesdays the week prior to the scheduled Common Council meeting.

In other business, the council:

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the Mount Pleasant Police Department for the Racine Police Department's use of MPPD's shooting range at a cost of $12,000 annually from the RPD budget.

• Authorized a contract with Wil-Surge Electric and Code Red Security for a one-year contract, each with four additional one-year extensions, for surveillance camera and access point contracting services, with the 2025 cost of $50,000 and the 2026 cost of $380,000.

• Disallowed a claim for an unspecified amount from Jerry Price and Danielle Thomas for damages to their property on Fairview Terrace allegedly arising from a tree falling on their property in July. The tree did not belong to the city, nor was it the city's responsibility to maintain the tree.

• Approved the 2026-27 election officials.

• Granted permission to the city to award two contracts for ash tree removal, with one to Acer Tree Service and Landscape for $91,961 and one to Stefka Tree & Landscape for $22,115. The awards will be funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Inflation Reduction Act Urban Forestry grant.

• Authorized the public health department to continue the agreement with the Wisconsin Humane Society for stray and impound animal shelter services for $216,039.

• Authorized the public health department to enter into an agreement and accept funding of $198,314 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Disease Intervention Specialist Supplemental Agreement to be used to support syphilis case management within Racine County. This will increase one current, part-time position to a full-time position.

• Authorized the public health department to enter into a new agreement and accept recurring funding of $51,317 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Women's Health Block Grant-General and to establish and hire a part-time nurse practitioner position, partially funded through this grant.

• Authorized the public health department to enter into a new agreement and accept recurring funding of $64,753 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Women's Health Block Grant — City-Based Clinics and to partially fund the part-time nurse practitioner position that correlates with the above agenda item.

• Authorized the public health department to enter into a new agreement and accept recurring funding of $7,888 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for the Women's Health Block Grant — chlamydia outreach.

• Approved the 2026 storm emergency sewer repairs fixed prices.

• Approved the 2026 sanitary emergency sewer repairs fixed prices.

• Approved a change order to a contract for concrete reconstruction with LaLonde Contractors, reducing the contract amount by $4,242 for a total contract amount of $1,252,341.

• Authorized final payment for concrete reconstruction by LaLonde Contractors for $1,252,341.

• Authorized the city engineer to sign the renewal with Precise Underground Marketing Corporation to provide underground facility locating services for the city-owned fiber optics and electrical systems from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026. The estimated annual cost for these services is $100,000.

• Approved an easement request from WE Energies for Racine City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.

• Approved an amendment to city parking regulations to add the following: No Parking Any Time: Glen Street, east end cul-de-sac from curb return to curb return.

• Approved a change order to a contract for City Hall elevator upgrades with Express Elevator, increasing the contract amount by $46,742 for a total contract amount of $361,742.

• Authorized final payment for City Hall elevator upgrades to Express Elevator of $361,742.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_6e81a49e-b776-4df1-ab43-6ad032196163.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Evers, Mason fill potholes in Racine as Evers tours state

From The Journal Times.com:

Holly Gilvary

RACINE — Gov. Tony Evers and City of Racine Mayor Cory Mason filled potholes in the 1100 block of Grove Avenue on Thursday as part of Evers' fifth annual statewide Pothole Patrol Tour.

Evers and Mason got to work around 10 a.m., joined by Racine Department of Public Works and Wisconsin Department of Transportation staff.

Evers' proposed 2025-27 biennial state budget includes more than $2.6 billion for the state highway rehabilitation program and $100 million for the Local Roads Improvement supplement program, which provides direct support to local road and bridge projects throughout the state, according to a news release.

The state's Joint Finance Committee is currently reviewing and revising the budget proposal, which will then be sent to the Senate and Assembly for approval. Both houses of the Legislature must pass the budget before it can go back to Evers' desk for a final review and signing.

The new budget is expected to take effect July 1.

More than 8,600 miles of roads and 2,000 bridges in Wisconsin have been improved since 2019, according to the governor's office.

Evers' tour also included stops in La Crosse, Wausau and Waukesha.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_8db666d8-f838-48cd-b5ef-66a70d2d792b.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

   

Snow, salt causing the Hop to short circuit

Racine declares snow emergency for Friday, Saturday

From The Journal Times.com:

Holly Gilvary

RACINE — The City of Racine has declared its second snow emergency this week, in effect 6 p.m. Friday to noon Saturday.

About 1-3 inches of snow is expected to accumulate Friday night, according to the National Weather Service.

Commissioner of Public Works John Rooney said he made the declaration in order to aid the city's snow removal operations.

During the snow emergency, parking will not be permitted on either side of the city's highways, arterial streets and collector streets.

For all other streets, alternate-side parking will be in effect. Vehicles parked in violation of the restrictions will be ticketed and subject to towing.

Alternate-side parking regulations will expire at noon Saturday. After the snow emergency ends, alternate-side winter parking regulations will resume from 2-6 a.m.

All City of Racine Department of Public Works drop-off sites will be closed this weekend to ensure adequate staffing for plowing operations, according to the city. This includes the Racine Transfer Station at 6300 S. 21st St. and the Pearl Street Facility. 

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/weather/racine-snow-emergency-february-14/article_000eebe6-eb01-11ef-80b2-afb987555b08.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Residents, leaders, and businesses brace for snow emergency

City of Racine declares snow emergency

From The Journal Times.com:

Holly Gilvary

RACINE — The City of Racine has declared a snow emergency beginning at noon Wednesday and ending at noon Thursday.

According to the National Weather Service, Racine County residents can expect 5-9 inches of snow near Lake Michigan between Wednesday and Thursday.

Racine Department of Public Works crews on Tuesday began applying brine to roadways, which forms a thin protective layer on pavement, preventing ice from bonding and making plowing more efficient, according to the city.

The city said DPW will deploy snow plows immediately once snowfall begins.

Plows will start with arterial roads and then move onto neighborhood streets, city-owned facilities and parking lots, and public sidewalks. 

Since a snow emergency has been declared, parking is prohibited on arterial and collector streets. Vehicles parked on these roads during the snow emergency may be towed, according to the city.

Residents can assist snow removal efforts by following the city's alternate-side winter parking ordinance, in effect from Dec. 1 to April 1. The city said the Racine Police Department will actively enforce winter parking regulations, with increased attention during snow events.

DPW staff may be reassigned from garbage collection to snow removal efforts, the city said. Residents should still place bins at the curb by 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection day but be aware that pick up may be delayed. 

Additionally, the city is asking residents to clear sidewalks within 24 hours of the snowfall stopping.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/city-racine-declares-snow-emergency/article_bfd54cce-e8b1-11ef-aaf7-97fee3631922.html

We don't know how she survived for 5 days': Piper the pipe kitten rescued

Proposed Racine street mural hits roadblock

From Fox6Now:



Read more: https://www.fox6now.com/news/honest-open-transparent-new-racine-street-mural-proposal-met-with-roadblock

352 City retirees file claims over health care benefits; Could lead to court battle

From The Journal Times.com:

Christina Lieffring

RACINE — Three groups of retirees from the City of Racine — 352 individuals who are retired firefighters, police officers and public-works employees — have filed claims against the city over changes made last fall to their health-care benefits.

During the budget process last fall, the City Council approved changes that reduced the city’s health plan options to a single plan with a set contribution of 7.5%, calculated at $55 a month for an individual and $145 a month for a family.

Retired firefighter Mike George said there’s a clause in their contract that states that whatever premium they paid when they retired is the premium they pay for life under the city’s insurance. The city can change deductibles and co-pays, but their contract stipulates that premiums cannot change.

Some retirees retired when city employees were not required to pay any premiums, so they have not had to pay a premium in their retirement.

“And now they’re getting hit with the premiums,” George said.

The Finance and Personnel Committee on Monday discussed the claims in closed session. When it reconvened in open session, at the City Attorney’s Office’s recommendation, the committee voted unanimously to recommend that City Council disallow the claim.

The next City Council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 21.

Warnings unheeded

During the debate over the proposed changes last fall, the Finance and Personnel Committee with the Water and Wastewater utilities voted to break off from the city’s plan, partly because it did not want to hurt recruitment and retention, and partly because Utility General Manager Keith Haas was concerned that, based on case law, the changes to retirees’ benefits could result in litigation.

However, when the Water and Wastewater Commissions had to vote on the proposal, Commissioners Thomas Bunker and Kathleen DeMatthews were outnumbered by then-City Administrator Jim Palenick and Aldermen Natalia Taft and John Tate II.

Jose Carbajal of the Racine Professional Firefighters Local 321, said the union is in open arbitration with the city, arguing the city changed its contract when it changed its health care benefits. Carbajal said the union filed for arbitration shortly after the changes were voted in last year and followed with a prohibited practice complaint filed with the state in early 2020.

George said that if the council votes to disallow the claims, their next step may be taking the city to court.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/352-city-retirees-file-claims-over-health-care-benefits-could-lead-to-court-battle/article_32607213-0517-54bd-a9c5-1a50447eb7f8.html

'We'll paint it again with better paint': City removes 'Defund the Police' mural on Water Street

From JSOnline:

Ricardo Torres

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

DPW workers use pressure washers to remove the mural.

Michael Sears / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

City Department of Public Works employees were up early on a rainy Friday morning removing the words “defund the police” from Water Street directly across from City Hall.  

The Department of Public Works' decision to remove the mural, officials said in a news release Thursday, was "solely about safety." City officials said the mural's paint obscures traffic lines and has been slick when wet.

“The message painted on Water Street has been heard loud and clear by policy makers in city government, and the Department of Public Works has no intention to diminish the voices calling for change,” said Commissioner of Public Works Jeff Polenske.

The city worked with activists and others to paint "Black Lives Matter" at the intersection of West Locust Street and North King Drive. Meanwhile, the Common Council has asked the city budget office to examine what a 10% reduction to the Milwaukee Police Department budget would look like.

The "defund the police" message was painted on the street by protesters on July 1 without the city’s permission. Several police officers were on hand to help block the street as workers used chemicals, push brooms and high-powered hoses to scrub away the words.

Activists protesting racial inequality and police brutality have clashed with law enforcement multiple times over the last two months. However, the majority of the marches and events have been peaceful.  

Only one protester was present for the mural removal, Frank Sensabaugh, who goes by the nickname Frank Nitty. 

Sensabaugh said the city released more precise guidelines if activists want to paint the message again.

“We’ll paint it again with better paint,” Sensabaugh said, noting he plans to make sure the new mural will abide by the guidelines. “I’m a fair guy. We’ll do a non-slip mural.” 

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2020/07/10/well-paint-again-better-paint-city-removes-mural-water-street/5413406002/

Out of Control DPW Snowplow Drivers

Dear City of Racine Alderpersons,

This video - captured by Scott Christopher highlights the outta
control City of Racine DPW Employees who are destroying City property.

The street had already been plowed - and as it was garbage collection
day, Residents wheeled their carts down to the plowed streets - only
to find that a subsequent plowing would not only tip over their carts
- but run them over and damage them.

Link here: https://www.facebook.com/scott.nelson.3998/videos/10218775677441700/?__xts__[0]=68.ARDpoWecS-12cN1w_6z5Koq-KSBLbf3x3d30QFzm6imCtst5MinZt820eRv2NHPcjsRhrk1k7F5bqrWVTOisrGNrCJMTTwchejyU8WHJ7LyeANnzlkJf_YRsaoZZynzJ5kirp4W9BnIQHjcCtSMqLGA7RS3OPoTjpw78yIAGUsvarOvGiR26Kw8oL8Y_mSXOWRrxVuccTuiM5h8npMalEebY6-dmt-ECdHW9gwXkGnGv7qAjNc8RvS4JGBmwN1B6lde84DX-5iOjzjYNow&__tn__=-R
 />
Really?

DPW needs to be questioned as to why this behavior is acceptable.

Sincerely,

Tim & Cindy