Aug. 21, 2024 9:15p
From WGTD News:
Groundbreaking for the new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Racine is expected to be held in October, following Racine City Council approval this week. The council voted 12 to 3 to borrow $21 million to bridge the gap between the existing financing package and money that’s expected in the future to put the $68 million project over the top. The building, to go up adjacent to Julian Thomas Elementary, will replace an aging community center located a block to the north. It's expected to include a clinic run by Pillar Health, a non-profit which is affiliated with the Kenosha Community Health Center. Nearly two-dozen citizens spoke in favor of the project at Tuesday's council meeting. Those who voted against the project expressed concerns over the cost, using COVID relief dollars that originally had been earmarked for other projects and some uncertainty over whether Pillar Health would actually move in.
-0-
Turmoil has hit the non-profit that runs the Kemper and Anderson Arts centers for Kenosha County. Five board members have resigned or were forced out in recent days, along with the newly appointed executive director, Daniel Gaschke, who also serves as vice-chair of the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors. In a statement, Gaschke said he resigned because he could no longer function under a new set of bylaws and directions. It’s unclear just what precipitated the changes. The new Kemper board chairman, Jason Rasch, said a search will begin soon for a new executive director. A recently-retired staff member has been appointed as interim executive director. Gaschke took over this past spring for Ed Kulbicki, who retired. In his statement, Gaschke said he was proud of what he had accomplished during his short time in office, and wished the best for Kemper and the Anderson Arts Center. While the buildings on Kenosha’s lakefront are owned by the county, they’re managed by the non-profit, which is not subject to the state’s open records and open meetings requirements.
-0-
Racine Mayor Cory Mason’s bid to strike a better deal with Mt. Pleasant over water issues was endorsed by the Racine City Council Tuesday night, but not by much. The council voted 8 to 6 to support a letter by the mayor that already had been sent. The letter triggered new discussions between the city and the village. The city supplies water and sewer service to Mt. Pleasant. Several projects, including the Microsoft data center complex, are in limbo. According to discussions that occurred at Tuesday night’s council meeting, a representative of the governor’s office has already gotten involved. Mason argues that the water agreement needs to be renegotiated because Foxconn is not materializing as planned. A half-dozen negotiating sessions have already been held. The existing agreement calls for eventual mediation and binding arbitration if the sides can’t reach a new deal on their own.
-0-