news & notes

Drexel and Pennsylvania to get new traffic signal

Oak Creek and South Milwaukee will install traffic signal improvements at Drexel and Pennsylvania avenues later this year.

The Oak Creek Common Council on Feb. 16 approved an agreement to share equally with South Milwaukee the design, construction, maintenance and operations costs of the signal system.

The communities both determined traffic signals were warranted at the intersection after conducting a traffic study in November 2007. Oak Creek's portion of the project will be covered by 2009 capital improvement project funds.

City commits funds for new I-94 interchange

Oak Creek is pledging to fund 25 percent of the proposed $15.2 million Interstate 94 Drexel Avenue interchange, but it remains to be seen whether the state will agree to proceed with that commitment.

The Common Council on Feb. 16 voted 4-2 to override Mayor Richard Bolender's veto of a resolution declaring the funding commitment, which was initially passed last month.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has asked Oak Creek - and any partners the city enlists, which to date is none - to contribute 50 percent, or $7.6 million, of the interchange's cost.

City Administrator Patrick DeGrave said he plans to forward the city's resolution to the DOT this week. The city has until March 31 to finalize a cost agreement with the DOT, but city officials and state representatives have been pushing for an extension on that deadline.

Injured workers file suit against We Energies

Several contracted workers injured in the Feb. 3 explosion in a coal dust collector at the We Energies power plant have filed a lawsuit against the utility.

Six of the workers, employed by scaffold company ThyssenKrupp Safway, were treated for injuries they incurred while setting up scaffolding in the dust collector. Four were treated for burns at Columbia St. Mary's Regional Burn Center. Those filing suit were Ryan Bramow and Dale Glodoski, both of Oak Creek; Alex Trevino, South Milwaukee; Jose Trevino, Cudahy; Jacob Ciszewski, St. Francis; Benjamin Buffington, Milwaukee; and Jeffrey Ross, Greenfield.

We Energies spokesman Brian Manthey was unable to comment Feb. 17 on the lawsuit.

The OSHA-led investigation is still continuing, he said, and it could be several months before the agency issues a report on its findings. We Energies will not be able to assess damages until that occurs, he said.

St. Matthew's raises diabetes awareness funds

St. Matthew's Catholic School in Oak Creek this month raised $1,242 in a penny war to support the American Diabetes Association.

The school is also learning about the seriousness of diabetes and how eating healthy and exercising can help prevent the disease. Approximately 23.6 million children and adults have diabetes in the United States.

For information, call (888) 342-2383, or visit diabetes.org/schoolwalk.