{"id":5879,"date":"2023-09-27T01:31:32","date_gmt":"2023-09-27T01:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=5879"},"modified":"2023-09-27T02:15:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T02:15:41","slug":"franklin-mayor-wants-to-reopen-rocks-development-agreement-cant-recall-insults-at-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/?p=5879","title":{"rendered":"Franklin Mayor Wants to Reopen Rock\u2019s Development Agreement, \u2018Can\u2019t Recall\u2019 Insults at Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.wisconsinrightnow.com\/franklin-mayor-john-nelson-2\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Franklin<\/p>\n

Franklin Mayor John Nelson said he wants the development agreement between the embattled Rock complex and Milwaukee County to be reopened and pledged an \u201caggressive\u201d timeline to solve neighbors\u2019 sound concerns in a fiery interview in which he said he could not recall, and then denied, that neighbors and county supervisors were insulted at an emergency meeting he convened.<\/p>\n

Wisconsin Right Now has confirmed<\/a> through multiple sources that neighbors and Milwaukee County supervisors were bashed repeatedly at the meeting, with insults flying around like \u201cidiots,\u201d \u201cf*ckers,\u201d \u201ccrazy\u201d and \u201cterrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI will get this done,\u201d Nelson pledged of the neighbors\u2019 noise concerns. He believes if the Rock turns its speakers in and angles them down, it will \u201cQuell 90 percent of what\u2019s going on.\u201d Nelson said he wants to \u201copen\u201d the development agreement between the county and Rock and \u201cmake adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe paradigm has shifted,\u201d Nelson said to WRN. \u201cI will come up with an aggressive timeline. I want to get this whole sound monitor stuff done right away.\u201d He\u2019s referring to a County sound study\u2019s revelation that some of the Rock\u2019s sound monitors don\u2019t work. Nelson wants the city to take over running them and to put the data online.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is too loud,\u201d he acknowledged of the noise emanating from the sports and entertainment complex into nearby residential neighborhoods. \u201cWe don\u2019t like it from the city\u2019s standpoint.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the first portion of the Monday interview, an angry Nelson interrogated the Wisconsin Right Now reporter, attempting to learn WRN\u2019s sources and repeatedly demanding to know whether the meeting was recorded or \u201cbugged.\u201d<\/p>\n

WRN does not reveal its sources one way or the other. We had reported<\/a> that the five-person emergency meeting Nelson convened last week about the Rock ended up in a bash fest against neighbors and county supervisors who have said noise concerns are so persistent they are wrecking their lives.<\/p>\n

Asked whether he condemns Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor<\/a> calling county supervisors \u201cterrorists\u201d and neighbors \u201cidiots\u201d at the meeting, Nelson stated, \u201cI don\u2019t recall him saying anything like that number one.\u201d Nelson also insisted at one point, \u201cNobody attacked anybody in this meeting.\u201d He noted, \u201cI don\u2019t recall anyone calling Patti Logsdon any names.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, that is flatly not true. During the meeting, Taylor called supervisors \u201cterrorists\u201d and neighbors \u201cidiots,\u201d and he also referred to neighbors as \u201cf*ckers.\u201d Developer Mike Zimmerman called Milwaukee County Supervisor Patti Logsdon \u201ccrazy.\u201d A Franklin critic was labeled a \u201cgrinch\u201d and \u201csuper creep,\u201d and Logsdon was called a \u201cdesperate woman.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson then stated, \u201cI can\u2019t speak to what Steve Taylor did or didn\u2019t say.\u201d At another point, though, Nelson disputed that Taylor or anyone was \u201csaying the F-bomb on these people. I don\u2019t believe it was said.\u201d However, WRN has confirmed that Taylor did in fact call the neighbors \u201cf*ckers\u201d during the meeting.<\/p>\n

We also wrote Taylor and asked him whether he regretted making the remarks and whether he planned to apologize, but he did not respond.<\/p>\n

We asked Nelson about comments HE made at the meeting, referring to a female neighbor as emotional and commenting on her eyes and hair, and he admitted making those comments. He said those comments were a reference to when he went to the neighborhood near the Rock while the recent Taco and Tequila event was going on at the establishment, and the neighbor \u201chad an angry, fiery look in her eyes. She always has.\u201d He stated that she is \u201cvery, very emotional about the sound, and that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Nelson, \u201cWe\u2019re having that meeting to come up with solutions with an aggressive timeline\u201d to get the neighbors\u2019 and city\u2019s concerns addressed. \u201cWe all agreed to come to the table with short and long-term goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

We asked why Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor was included in the meeting but Logsdon, who represents the area, was not. Taylor now works for the Rock\u2019s foundation, and he spoke on behalf of the Rock at the five-person meeting. In addition to Nelson and Taylor, the other invitees were developer Mike Zimmerman, Franklin Alderman Jason Craig, and Franklin Administrator Kelly Hersh. The neighbors and other county supervisors were not included.<\/p>\n

Nelson acknowledged that his campaign was supported by Zimmerman. He said he received the maximum donation, which is $735 a person. He claimed others from the Rock development supported his opponent. He also said he held a campaign event at the Rock\u2019s golf facility. He said concerns about those things are unfair.<\/p>\n

Nelson said that Logsdon \u201cwas not invited because she already has been leading the charge to sue The Rock. She already has her mind made up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked how that differed from Taylor and Zimmerman, who are fervently pro-Rock, and who were at the emergency meeting, he stated,\u00a0 \u201cThis is the first meeting of many.\u201d He said that Logsdon would be involved in future meetings. Logsdon is one of at least three supervisors who have raised the possibility of taking legal action against The Rock or trying to reopen its development agreement; the others are Kathleen Vincent and Deanna Alexander.<\/p>\n

Asked for his reaction to Logsdon being called \u201ccrazy\u201d at the meeting, Nelson said, \u201cnot by me,\u201d adding that he was \u201cnot going into others.\u201d<\/p>\n

WRN asked why he didn\u2019t defend the neighbors and supervisors or push back when they were insulted by others at the meeting. He stressed that he has \u201cdefended the neighbors many times\u201d and has \u201cgone there numerous times when citizens have called.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson claimed The Rock is operating under the 79-decibel level set in the county development agreement and thus doesn\u2019t ever hit the violation level. The neighbors dispute this contention, which we will be exploring in depth in an upcoming article.<\/p>\n

He said the Rock should turn the speakers in and the music down. He acknowledged there have been \u201cissues with the sound monitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Nelson, the issues have stemmed from what he sees as a flawed development agreement between the county and The Rock\u2019s developers. \u201cWe\u2019ve been beat up on it for many years,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve gotten Mr. Zimmerman and The Rock group to come with solutions. It\u2019s to that point.\u201d<\/p>\n

He stressed that at the first meeting, they all agreed to \u201cbring a wish list of all we want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

At one point, Nelson said of the WRN reporter, \u201cSee how much crap you can stir.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, he also said that, generally, he condemns any negative comments made by anyone towards the neighbors.<\/p>\n

At another point, he said that Logsdon was not included because she \u201cis suing The Rock,\u201d although Logsdon has said she wants to explore whether to bring a resolution to have the county take legal action against The Rock.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf she wants to be part of the solution, I welcome her to the table,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

According to Nelson, possible solutions include \u201csoundboards.\u201d He also wants to see the Rock\u2019s sound meters \u201ctaken over by the City of Franklin and put on the website.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the city continues to only count a violation if one exists for 30 minutes straight, without an interruption, and admitted that would make it almost impossible for The Rock to get a violation.<\/p>\n

He described the Taco and Tequila event as \u201cextremely heavily attended\u201d with no arrests and no citations. He admitted some problems with the event but said, \u201cThey want more concerts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson recalled when the site of The Rock was a \u201cdark black hill\u201d where he would sled as a child. He said no one thought the area would be what it is today and noted it is good for Franklin\u2019s economic base.<\/p>\n

He acknowledged the \u201cannouncer\u2019s voice is very loud\u201d at Milkmen games. He said The Rock could be a \u201cconcert venue\u201d at some point.<\/p>\n

According to Nelson, The Rock has \u201cdone things as well that have addressed some of these issues, but is it enough?\u201d<\/p>\n

He said the development agreement trumps city ordinances.<\/p>\n

Nelson wants to make the monitors operable and bring in a neighborhood representative. \u201cThere is no one in cahoots here,\u201d said Nelson.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is trying to stop the contentious relationship,\u201d and \u201cheal\u201d and \u201cmove forward,\u201d said Nelson.<\/p>\n

Asked how the name-calling at the emergency meeting helped with that quest, as well as some of the comments on social media over the years by Taylor and Zimmerman, Nelson said, \u201cI condemn anyone being disrespectful to our residents and neighborhoods.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were there first,\u201d he said of the neighbors.<\/p>\n

He disputed that their property values are down.<\/p>\n

Asked about Hersh\u2019s comments at the meeting that she wanted to get data to support people calling the neighbors \u201cKarens,\u201d which is a derogatory term, Nelson said, \u201cI am not sure what that is and what that would mean. Any data discussion would be trying to prove the decibel amount. We are trying to define a baseline for these decibels.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hersh did not return a request for comment.<\/p>\n

He said he would like to see different decibel levels, perhaps in the 50s or 60s for a ball game, and maybe in the low 70s for a concert night three or four times a year. He also wants the events to end at certain times. He wants a designated sound system for the Umbrella Bar.<\/p>\n

Nelson claimed the \u201cformer mayor had a terrible relationship with The Rock,\u201d adding that the \u201ccity is heavily invested in this project.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s taking longer than we thought,\u201d said Nelson, referring to resolution to noise concerns. He said part of the delay was because \u201cRock management and ownership were waiting\u201d for the county\u2019s $200,000 sound study to come out.<\/p>\n

He did not specify the exact timeline but noted that the Milkmen games are done for the year.<\/p>\n

He did say he liked Greendale\u2019s sound ordinance which breaks down different decibel levels by sound type, time, and zoning.<\/p>\n

Nelson said he stood by his own comments at the meeting and would \u201cnot comment on anything they may or may not have said,\u201d referring to Zimmerman and Taylor.<\/p>\n

Asked why he and others at the meeting were trying to designate a neighborhood leader and why he did not want the neighbor he called \u201ctoo emotional\u201d to lead the neighbors, he said, \u201cThe concern with Dana is she would go back with boxes of data and go back into the past.\u201d He said he wants to move forward to the future.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want people to know this is going to be a very transparent and inclusive way of coming to solutions,\u201d Nelson insisted. \u201cWe are going to move forward with a very direct timeline. It\u2019s going to have accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This post originally appeared at https:\/\/www.wisconsinrightnow.com\/franklin-mayor-john-nelson-2\/ Franklin Mayor John Nelson said he wants the development…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":5881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wi-right-now"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5879"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5882,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5879\/revisions\/5882"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wifamily.news\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}