A group home for at-risk teenage girls may be shut down by the city because of repeated incidents involving Racine police.
The city Plan Commission will consider a proposal tonight to shutdown the Lydia Group home at 3131 Taylor Ave. (click for map) Sgt. William Macemeon, of the Racine Police Department, said in a report to the comission that third-shift police officers have responded to 17 complaints at the group home for runaways and disorderly conduct since Oct. 1. All of the complaints have involved the same three girls, ages 15, 15 and 13.
The group home is tied to the Milwaukee County Court System and the girls are supervised by Milwaukee County case workers. Even though the girls have violated the terms of their placement at the group home, their case workers and the head of the group have not requested that they be removed to a secured environment, Macemon said.
Assistant Police Chief Steve Hurley reported that he spoke with a supervisor at the group home and asked them to call Lt. Al Days to discuss a solution to the repeated calls to the facility. The supervisor had not contacted Days as of Oct. 23.
City staff is recommending the group home be closed. The Plan Commission is scheduled to vote on the proposal today at 4:15 p.m.
Oct 31, 2007
City may shut group home for teen girls
Oct 9, 2007
City Business: Recording studio proposed on Douglas Ave.
Some recent items of city business...
Recording Studio on Douglas Ave.
Chris and Aleisha Djuricic are seeking permission from the city to open a recording studio at 2415 Douglas Ave. (see map below). The Djuricics need the property to be rezoned and need a conditional use permit to operate the studio.Claim denied
The city denied the claim of Maria Rodriquez, of Summit Ave., who wanted $250 to fix a lawn mower that was damaged after hitting a raised water service shut-off box. The City Council rejected her request, saying the city did not know a problem existed with the shut-off box.Claim approved
The city paid HM Investments $7,334.68 to reimburse the costs of repairing a sewer main next to 1918 Slauson Ave. The city confirmed the wye connection to the main was broken.New police vehicle
The Personnel and Finance Committee agreed to spend up to $50,00 to replace the Police Department's personnel transport vehicle for the Special Investigation Unit. Police Chief Kurt Wahlen said the 1995 Chevy van currently in use needed to be replaced.
Starbucks proposed outside of Regency Mall
A Starbucks with driveup may be going in near Regency Mall at 2805 S. Green Bay Road. Dave Herbeck, of Clubhouse on Wisconsin, is applying for a conditional use permit to operate the coffee house chain. It would replace the Joe To Go, which operated at the same address.
If approved, it would be the third Starbucks, and fourth coffee shop, between Durand Avenue and Washington Avenue. There's a Starbucks near Washington Ave and S. Green Bay Road, the Barnes & Noble at S. Green Bay Road and Durand Avenue sells Starbucks and across the intersection there's a Caribou Coffee with a drive up. 
Teen dance club proposed for former Century Market
Two new night clubs on Sixth Street are trying to work their way through the city approval process.
The city Plan Commission will consider a teen dance club called "The Bricks" at its meeting on Wednesday. Michael Rosales wants to open the club at 522 6th St., which is the former Century Market (see map below).
Rosales brought the idea to the commission's meeting on Sept. 27. The dance club would be open to 16 to 20 year olds on Thursdays and Fridays until 10:45 p.m. Security staff and police would be hired to control the crowds.
The commission deferred action on the proposal and directed Rosales to come up with a business plan and further map out how he would use the building. The proposal comes back to the Plan Commission on Wednesday.
On Monday, the City Council's Public Safety Committee deferred action on a liquor license for Tinita's, a proposed salsa club at 500 Sixth St. A lawyer representing the night club was unable to attend the meeting. The committee is expected to take up the item at its next meeting in two weeks.
