Monday, July 23, 2012
Mark Verhalen filed a claim for $1,160 for damage to his property after a grass fire started during the Fourth of July fireworks.
The insurance company that covered Oak Creek's July 4 fireworks is expected to approve a claim for damage caused by a grass fire that broke out shortly after the fireworks started. City Clerk Catherine Roeske said the city contracted with Spielbauer Fireworks Company for the Fourth of July display and took out a joint insurance policy that had Spielbauer listed first. She said the policy covers the damages and the property owner, Mark Verhalen, should receive a "positive response" in the next day or two. Verhalen filed a claim with the city for $1,160 in damages caused by the July 4 fire. The city denied the claim last week, saying it should be filed with Spielbauer instead. Verhalen said he is hoping for a quick resolution and not a drawn…
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The former mayoral candidate and current school board member, who owns the property that caught fire during the July 4 fireworks, said he plans to file a claim with the city.
The property that caught fire during the Oak Creek Fourth of July fireworks display is owned by former mayoral candidate Mark Verhalen, who said Monday he is still assessing the damage. Verhalen said he plans to file a claim with the city for his losses, though he does not anticipate it being a huge amount and hopes he can work with Oak Creek to reach an agreement. Verhalen farms in the area that caught on fire, but he wasn't yet sure of the extent of any crop damage. The Oak Creek Fire Department said it contained the fire to about a one-acre area just east of East Middle School, where the fireworks were shot off. The blaze put a halt to the fireworks about 10 minutes into the display. Fire officials said they worked with Verhalen and the…
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Oak Creek-Franklin School Board member, defeated in Tuesday's mayoral race, said he remains worried about the future of Oak Creek.
Mark Verhalen, who fell short of the Oak Creek mayor's office for the fourth consecutive time Tuesday, said he congratulates Steve Scaffidi on a good race but cautioned the city on the direction it is headed. "I hope these guys know what they're doing because based on the votes at the Common Council meeting last night, I see everyone is walking in step with borrowing a heck of a lot of money," he said. Verhalen was referring to the council's votes -- just a few hours before the polls closed -- to move forward on a tax-incremental financing district at the former Delphi site and approve a set of land swaps involving Delphi and the Civic Center property. "What they're planning on doing is unprecedented in the history of the city and I would …
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Alderman will be sworn in April 17 after defeating Verhalen in Tuesday's general election.
Steve Scaffidi is the new mayor of Oak Creek after defeating Mark Verhalen in Tuesday's general election. According to unofficial results, Scaffidi got 3,743 votes compared to 2,997 for Verhalen. Results remain unofficial until certified by the Board of Canvassers. "I think all the hard work we put into the campaign over the past four months paid off," Scaffidi said. "It was a closer race than I actually thought it would be. "Just very excited about the possibilities and the future of Oak Creek. Lots of great projects to work on and we're going to do our very best while saving as much money as we can in the process. "I ran a positive race the whole time and I'm proud of that fact." Verhalen couldn't be reached for comment late Tuesday. The…
Friday, March 30, 2012
The two candidates sat down with Oak Creek Patch to talk Delphi, lakefront and more.
In video interviews with Oak Creek Patch, mayoral candidates Mark Verhalen and Steve Scaffidi lay out their ideas for the city. Patch asked each candidate why they decided to run for mayor, what they see as the city's biggest challenge, their vision for Delphi and the future of the lakefront. For more coverage on the mayor's race and all other races on the ballot April 3, check out our Election Central page.
Verhalen opposed to exchanges involving Oakwood, Civic Center and Delphi site; Scaffidi is in favor.
Several issues that could play a huge role in the future of Oak Creek have come to the forefront in recent weeks and months. Wouldn't you know it, they also coincided with a busy election season that includes a race for an open mayoral seat, forcing candidates to take stands and cast votes. There was already plenty of contrast between Oak Creek mayoral candidates Steve Scaffidi and Mark Verhalen to give residents a true choice when they head to the polls Tuesday, and these issues have provided even clearer distinctions. One was the Feb. 7 vote to move the library and city hall to the Delphi site, 7929 S. Howell Ave. Scaffidi said he supported only moving the library there, while Verhalen favored keeping both buildings where they are. The …
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The two mayoral candidates take part in Thursday night debate at Oak Creek Community Center.
Just 12 days before voters head to the polls, candidates for Oak Creek mayor Mark Verhalen and Steve Scaffidi debated the issues Thursday night at the Oak Creek Community Center. The candidates touched on a range of topics, from the financial challenges facing the city, their vision for the former Delphi property and the possibility of selling Lake Michigan water to Waukesha. They also hit on a few well-traveled issues, including the location of the library and the 2010 eminent domain controversy surrounding Earl Giefer. The forum lasted just less than two hours in front of about 45 people at the community center, plus other residents who watched from home on Oak Creek Patch's live stream. If you were watching the Badgers or enjoying the …
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Steve Scaffidi and Mark Verhalen will debate at the Oak Creek Community Center.
Monday, March 12, 2012
School Board approves proposal Monday.
If all goes according to plan, the Oak Creek High School football field will be an artificial playing surface by the start of the 2012 season. The Oak Creek-Franklin School Board approved financing for the turf, commonly referred to by the brand name FieldTurf, in its meeting Monday on a 4-1 vote. Board member Mark Verhalen cast the only vote against the proposal. He said he wanted to hold off on a vote so issues, specifically with stormwater retention, could be worked out. Superintendent Sara Burmeister said the vote Monday was for financing and that the district will have time to address those details. No other board member spoke before the vote but they have previously said the turf, which looks like real grass but is actually a …
Civic Center site would be used for high school expansion.
The Oak Creek-Franklin School Board approved a land-swap agreement with the city of Oak Creek Monday in which the current Civic Center site would be used for a future expansion of Oak Creek High School. The board will exchange 50 acres of undeveloped property at Oakwood and Howell avenues for the Civic Center site at the corner of Puetz and Howell. The city will then exchange the Oakwood land with Wispark, the development arm of We Energies, for seven acres at the former Delphi site on which to build a library and city hall. Wispark plans to develop the Oakwood land into a business park. The agreement passed the board 4-1, with board member Mark Verhalen casting the lone opposing vote. The district's idea is to build a ninth-grade center …
oak creek resident
12:20 pm on Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Poor judgment led to property damage...simple as that. Pay the man. more ›