Local

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton contends it properly acquired all the right-of-way formerly in the Town of Middleton needed to widen Pleasant View Road and asks a Dane County judge to dismiss the town’s suit challenging that portion of the project.

The Cities of Middleton and Madison are planning to widen Pleasant View Road to four lanes south from USH 14 to Blackhawk Road, with construction scheduled to begin in earnest next spring.

The town sued the city in October alleging that the city couldn’t widen the road near the north end of the project, because it hadn’t acquired sufficient right-of-way. Specifically, property that fronts Pleasant View Road owned by Northwestern Stone, LLC. The company operates a rock quarry at 4373 N. Pleasant View Rd., which has been in the town.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton contends it properly acquired all the right-of-way formerly in the Town of Middleton needed to widen Pleasant View Road and asks a Dane County judge to dismiss the town’s suit challenging that portion of the project.

The Cities of Middleton and Madison are planning to widen Pleasant View Road to four lanes south from USH 14 to Blackhawk Road, with construction scheduled to begin in earnest next spring.

The town sued the city in October alleging that the city couldn’t widen the road near the north end of the project, because it hadn’t acquired sufficient right-of-way. Specifically, property that fronts Pleasant View Road owned by Northwestern Stone, LLC. The company operates a rock quarry at 4373 N. Pleasant View Rd., which has been in the town.

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton contends it properly acquired all the right-of-way formerly in the Town of Middleton needed to widen Pleasant View Road and asks a Dane County judge to dismiss the town’s suit challenging that portion of the project.

The Cities of Middleton and Madison are planning to widen Pleasant View Road to four lanes south from USH 14 to Blackhawk Road, with construction scheduled to begin in earnest next spring.

The town sued the city in October alleging that the city couldn’t widen the road near the north end of the project, because it hadn’t acquired sufficient right-of-way. Specifically, property that fronts Pleasant View Road owned by Northwestern Stone, LLC. The company operates a rock quarry at 4373 N. Pleasant View Rd., which has been in the town.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council reviewed a presentation from Elevate Energy and Sustain Dane, the nonprofit organizations that will manage the city’s first residential energy efficiency navigator program. The program aims to assist landlords in making efficiency upgrades to existing properties to lower energy costs for tenants in areas of the city where the average income is 50 percent or less than the area median income.

Senior program manager of Elevate John Viner explained the mission of the organization, which is based in Chicago but has developed a robust team working with several Wisconsin communities.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–Low levels of lead were found in two wells and other contaminates were found in surface water near the Middleton Municipal Airport-Morey Field, according to a recently released federal study.

The Town of Middleton commissioned the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to sample soil and water for contaminates associated with aviation fuel and a July 2021 fireworks show at the airport.

Twelve private wells were tested in May or June of this year, and low levels of lead were found at a well in the High Wood Circle subdivision north of the airport, and in a well in a rural setting northwest of the airport.

The USGS kept the sample sites anonymous to the public but will share them with the homeowners soon. Others concerned about the quality of their well water were urged to contact the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

MIDDLETON–The City of Middleton Plan Commission reviewed the latest updates and progress on the city’s comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan recently underwent a major overhaul which was approved in March 2021. Planning staff recommend a formal review and amendment to the plan in 2023.

Director of Planning and Community Development Abby Attoun presented the report and explained that the comprehensive plan should be responsive to continuous change in the community and its usefulness should be monitored to ensure that it is a consistent statement of city policy. Attoun said the plan should be considered a living document.

Attoun said the comprehensive plan is a 20-year plan with short, medium, and long term goals. 

It also includes an implementation plan that prioritizes action steps.

TOWN OF MIDDLETON–A proposed expansion of Bob Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena received a lukewarm reception at a town board meeting this week.

The property on Pleasant View Road, north of Evergreen Road, is owned by the town of Middleton but is within the city of Middleton, according to Town Chair Cynthia Richson.

The arena owners want to add a third indoor rink onto the existing 62,000-square-foot facility saying there’s not enough ice available for youth hockey programs.

“There’s a need in the Madison area as the (Alliant Energy Center) and the (University of Wisconsin) Shell will not be selling ice time in the future,” Don Goodweiler, treasurer of the Capitol Ice Arena.

Suter’s Capitol Ice Arena already hosts 53 hockey teams, its 1,043 skaters, of which nearly 32 percent are from the town, and 13 youth hockey programs, Goodweiler said.

MIDWEST–A major winter storm has been predicted and is expected to slow travel ahead of the Christmas holiday.

“Our winter storm criteria is typically six-inches of snow falling in a 12 hour period,” explained Tim Halbach, National Weather Service Milwaukee Warning Coordination Meteorologist.

Halbach added that a winter storm can be marked by smaller amounts of snow with high winds, causing a low visabilities.

Although it is hard to predict exactly how much snow will fall, the current prediction between the night of Dec. 21 and Dec. 23 is 8-12 inches. Winds are expected to kick up on late Thursday into Friday, with gusts up to 50 mph.

MIDDLETON–District 4 Common Council Alder Emily has announced that she will be running for mayor of the City of Middleton in the April 4, 2023 election.

Kuhn, whose district includes Lakeview Park area and much of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, has worked to fix potholes and slow traffic across the district, maintain parks and support public safety.

“If I am fortunate enough to be the next mayor of Middleton, I want to build the community stronger. I want Middleton to continue to be an attractive place to come and live with strong schools, good jobs, wonderful parks and a beautiful conservancy. I will continue to support our public safety, including the fire department, EMS, and police department,” Kuhn said.

MIDDLETON–The Middleton Common Council continued work on developing its first energy efficiency navigator program that will provide energy assessments and funding to update old apartment buildings and lower utility costs for tenants. The council approved a program that will provide a portion of funding from TIF funded projects for public art and set March 1 as the end of the public emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Michelle Phillips, chair of the city’s arts committee, said the committee has been working on the TIF funding proposal for more than two years. Phillips is also the editor for the Middleton Cross Plains Times-Tribune.

“When I'm out in the community, one of the things that I hear is that the public wants more art and we just don't have the funding to do that,” Phillips said. “As many of you know, funding has been further cut in the last few years and this attaches funding to TIF funds.”