Number
221630
Version
Substitute 1
Reference
Sponsor
THE CHAIR
Title
Substitute resolution authorizing the Milwaukee Water Works to accept a donation from the Milwaukee American Legion Star Monument Fund for renovation of the American Legion Historic Monument at Kilbourn Reservoir Park.
Analysis
This substitute resolution authorizes Milwaukee Water Works to accept a donation from the Milwaukee American Legion Star Monument Fund to support renovation of the American Legion Historic Monument at Kilbourn Reservoir Park.
Body
Whereas, Section 304-24 of the City of Milwaukee Code of Ordinances regulates the receipt, appropriation, and expenditure of contributions received by the City; and
Whereas, Kilbourn Reservoir Park is a 35.5-acre City of Milwaukee park located in the Riverwest neighborhood, between N. Bremen and N. Booth Streets, between E. Meineke Ave. and E. North Ave., and maintained by Milwaukee Water Works; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Mayor Byron Kilbourn donated the land now known as Kilbourn Park to the City of Milwaukee in 1880, and as a stipulation of that donation, deeded that "said ground shall forever be used as public park"; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Water Works established, maintained, and operated a drinking water reservoir and pumping station within the boundaries of Kilbourn Park from 1873 until the reservoir and pumping station were decommissioned in 2004; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Water Works removed the reservoir and replaced it with 88,000 cubic yards of soil, planted numerous trees, and installed several benches to enhance the public's enjoyment of the park in 2006, which also includes a baseball field, playground, public restrooms, and a basketball court, as well as an obelisk and stone monument honoring veterans of the First World War; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Water Works has honored American veterans by displaying the American Legion star emblem since 1931, represented by a multi-colored floral arrangement made up of thousands of flowers that Water Works staff planted anew each year until the mid-1990s; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Water Works established a permanent representation of the American Legion star emblem in the form of multicolored glass on a concrete base, measuring 50 feet in diameter, in 2010, and that material gradually deteriorated over time; and
Whereas, In 2021, Milwaukee Water Works determined that the deterioration of the monument called for complete renovation and developed a plan to rebuild the monument using colored quartz to portray the colors of the American Legion emblem; and
Whereas, Milwaukee Water Works in 2022 budgeted $100,000 for the project, and the lowest bid was $134,000, necessitating the need for supplemental funding; and
Whereas, Mid-City Corporation and sub-contractor Decorative Concrete, led by U.S. Army veteran Ben Evenson, completed the renovation of the monument in August 2022, just prior to the American Legion's 103th National Convention, held in Milwaukee in August 2022; and
Whereas, the Milwaukee American Legion Star Monument Fund, established by American Legion Post 331 Commander John Walloch, and American Legion 5th District Commander and Post 455 Commander Craig Ellis, has approved a donation of $14,803.41 to the Milwaukee Water Works to support the 2022 renovation of the American Legion Historic Monument at Kilbourn Park; now therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the City accepts with appreciation and gratitude the donation of from the Milwaukee American Legion Star Monument Fund; and, be it
Further Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee that the Water Works Superintendent is authorized to accept this gift for the purpose of renovating and restoring the American Legion Historic Monument at Kilbourn Park, and that upon receipt of these funds, Milwaukee Water Works will deposit the funds into account number 941891, Miscellaneous Non-Operating Income, and allocate said funds to capital project WT450225100 and contract C641220049.
Drafter
Milwaukee Water Works
Patrick W. Pauly, P.E./Aimee Tolefree
March 31, 2023