By Dr. Richard Busalacchi
Franklin Community News
Open records email, Zimmerman’s public comments, and conflicting statements to residents fuel questions about transparency and representation during the Tacos & Tequila and Country Rising permit debate.
An email obtained through a Franklin open records request is raising new questions about Milwaukee County Supervisor Kathleen Vincent’s public position regarding the controversial Tacos & Tequila and Country Rising music festivals approved this spring at The Rock Sports Complex.
The March 16, 2026 email — sent by Vincent to Franklin Mayor John Nelson, members of the Franklin Common Council, Greendale Village President Jason Cyborowski, Greendale Village Manager Mike Hawes, and others — appears to significantly soften the opposition Vincent publicly expressed less than two weeks earlier during a heated Franklin Common Council meeting regarding the proposed Country Rising concert permit.
“Tonight, I respectfully ask this body to vote down the proposed country concert permit due to the proven disruption,” Vincent told the council on March 3.
Vincent also rejected comparisons between The Rock’s large-scale music festivals and once-a-year community events such as Greendale Village Days, arguing that the frequency and impact of the concerts were fundamentally different.
“The scale, frequency, and documented impact are not comparable.”
She further referenced complaints from Greendale residents regarding profanity and racial slurs allegedly audible during prior events.
“There are also very racial epitaphs that have been heard in my community from the events in this community.”
At the March 3 meeting, Vincent positioned herself firmly alongside Greendale residents opposing the permit and emphasized that surrounding communities deserved a stronger voice in Franklin’s event approval process.
“Being good neighbors requires transparency, communication, and shared accountability,” Vincent stated during the meeting.
Vincent presented herself as an advocate for Greendale residents frustrated by years of noise complaints and what many viewed as insufficient regional coordination between Franklin and neighboring municipalities.
March 16 Email Reveals Softer Tone
However, the March 16 email obtained through the open records request reflects a markedly different tone.
In the email, Vincent informed Franklin officials that she had spoken directly with ROC Ventures owner Mike Zimmerman and praised him for his willingness to discuss mitigation efforts tied to The Rock events.
“I also want to express my appreciation for Mr. Zimmerman’s willingness to have a direct conversation about these concerns and to discuss steps that may help address the impact on surrounding communities,” Vincent wrote.
Vincent further stated that Zimmerman told her ROC Ventures intended to implement recommendations from the Franklin sound study and described efforts to address profanity concerns through what Zimmerman characterized as “PG-13” artist agreements.
Most notably, Vincent no longer asked Franklin officials to reject the permits.
Instead, Vincent wrote:
“I believe it is possible to strike a balance that allows this venue to continue operating successfully while also being mindful and respectful of neighboring communities—particularly the residents of Greendale, whom I represent as Milwaukee County Supervisor for District 11.”
While Vincent continued to emphasize the need for mitigation measures and additional sound monitoring on the Greendale side of the venue, her email stopped short of opposing approval of the festivals and instead focused on coexistence, balance, and implementation of safeguards.
Vincent wrote:
“If the City chooses to move forward with permitting events of this nature, it will be important that appropriate safeguards and mitigation measures are implemented.”
To many residents following the debate, the contrast between Vincent’s March 3 public opposition and her March 16 email represented a substantial shift in tone and messaging.
Zimmerman Publicly Says Vincent “Changed Her Tone”
The change became politically significant during the March 17 Franklin Common Council
During his presentation to the council, Zimmerman directly referenced Vincent’s prior opposition to the proposed Country Rising permit.
“I believe Supervisor Kathy Vincent sent a letter to you folks and said that she was asking for no votes,” Zimmerman told the council.
Zimmerman then informed council members that he had personally spoken with Vincent regarding concerns raised by Greendale residents and ongoing discussions surrounding sound mitigation efforts.
“I had a very nice conversation. She has changed her tone.”
Zimmerman further stated:
“As long as there’s a balance, she supports this.”
Zimmerman’s comments created the public impression during the meeting that Vincent had shifted from outright opposition to conditional support for the events if mitigation measures, sound monitoring, and operational safeguards were implemented.
The remarks came after Vincent’s March 16 email to Franklin officials in which she praised Zimmerman’s willingness to discuss mitigation efforts and stated she believed “it is possible to strike a balance” between neighborhood concerns and continued operation of the venue.
Residents Say Vincent Later Disputed Zimmerman’s Characterization
However, according to Greendale residents Joy Zingales and Dana Gindt, Vincent later privately disputed Zimmerman’s characterization of her position during the March 17 meeting itself.
According to Zingales, she texted Vincent during the meeting after hearing Zimmerman publicly state that Vincent now supported the events “as long as there’s a balance.”
Zingales stated Vincent responded that Zimmerman was not telling the truth regarding her support for the permits.
Dana Gindt independently corroborated the interaction and stated Vincent arrived at City Hall shortly afterward and privately spoke with Zingales in the outer lobby during the meeting.
According to both residents, Vincent clarified that she had not agreed to support approval of the permits despite Zimmerman’s public statements to the council.
The differing public statements, private discussions, and evolving messaging surrounding Vincent’s position have since become a major source of controversy among some Greendale residents, particularly those who viewed Vincent’s March 3 public comments as clear opposition to approval of the Country Rising permit.
Critics argue Vincent’s March 16 email materially softened her earlier position and gave Franklin officials and ROC Ventures political cover to move forward with approving the controversial events, while later private comments to residents appeared inconsistent with both her email and Zimmerman’s public characterization of their discussions.
Because Vincent’s Milwaukee County supervisory district includes all of Greendale, some residents are now questioning whether she ultimately represented the interests of Greendale residents who opposed the events or whether political relationships and behind-the-scenes discussions influenced her evolving public position.
Supporters of Vincent may argue that she never explicitly endorsed the permits and consistently emphasized the importance of mitigation measures, regional cooperation, and neighborhood protections throughout the process.
Broader Scrutiny Over Multiple Public Roles
The controversy surrounding Vincent’s position on The Rock permits comes amid broader public scrutiny regarding her multiple public roles and overlapping responsibilities.
Vincent currently serves as:
- Milwaukee County Supervisor for District 11,
- a Greendale School Board member,
- and a full-time educator within the Racine Unified School District.
Her overlapping taxpayer-funded positions have previously drawn criticism from political opponents, conservative media figures, and local watchdog publications questioning whether one individual can effectively balance multiple elected and professional public responsibilities simultaneously.
In September 2024, disciplinary records involving Vincent became public following reporting by Franklin Community News and Kenosha County Eye regarding allegations that Vincent conducted Milwaukee County Board and Greendale School Board business during school hours while employed as a teacher within the Kenosha Unified School District.
The reporting cited records allegedly showing Vincent participating in virtual meetings, calls, and governmental activities unrelated to classroom instruction during school hours. Records obtained through open records requests reportedly showed Vincent received disciplinary action connected to the allegations.
The controversy gained additional regional attention after conservative talk radio host Mark Belling discussed the issue on WISN-AM, referring to Vincent as a “Triple Dipper” for simultaneously collecting three taxpayer-funded paychecks tied to her multiple public positions.
Critics have argued that the overlapping roles raise legitimate concerns regarding scheduling conflicts, divided responsibilities, and public accountability — particularly when Vincent publicly represents constituents on controversial regional issues such as the debate surrounding the Tacos & Tequila and Country Rising music festivals at The Rock Sports Complex.
Supporters of Vincent, however, have argued that she maintains active participation in county government, school board matters, and constituent advocacy despite the criticism surrounding her multiple positions. Vincent has previously defended her attendance records and public service involvement, arguing that political opponents have exaggerated the controversy for partisan purposes.
Questions surrounding Vincent’s overlapping public responsibilities resurfaced again on May 18 during a Milwaukee County Committee on Community, Environment and Economic Development meeting.
Although Vincent does not serve on the committee, meeting records and the Microsoft Teams broadcast show Vincent participating remotely for approximately 30 minutes between roughly 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
A review of the Racine Unified School District academic calendar does not indicate that either students or faculty were off on May 18.
No public evidence has been presented showing Vincent violated district employment policies related to the May 18 meeting participation, and educators frequently participate in outside meetings during planning periods, breaks, or approved release time. However, critics argue the incident is likely to renew scrutiny regarding overlapping public responsibilities and scheduling conflicts tied to Vincent’s multiple taxpayer-funded positions.
For some Greendale residents already frustrated by what they viewed as conflicting public and private messaging regarding the Tacos & Tequila and Country Rising festival permits, the broader controversy surrounding Vincent’s overlapping governmental and professional roles has added to growing concerns about transparency, accountability, and whether constituents are receiving clear and consistent representation from elected officials.
Debate Over The Rock Continues
The controversy unfolded amid a broader debate over The Rock Sports Complex and Franklin’s push to expand large-scale entertainment events as part of the city’s economic development strategy.
During the March 17 meeting, Zimmerman repeatedly argued that concerts and festivals are essential to The Rock’s long-term viability.
“When we started this development over a decade ago, it was never just about baseball,” Zimmerman told the council.
He described entertainment events as “absolutely critical” to the venue and promoted Country Rising and Tacos & Tequila as economic drivers capable of positioning Franklin as a regional entertainment destination.
Residents opposed to the events, however, continued to raise concerns regarding:
- excessive noise,
- profanity,
- impacts on children and families,
- and the effect large-scale concerts have on nearby neighborhoods in both Franklin and Greendale.
Despite the controversy, the Franklin Common Council ultimately voted 5-1 on March 17 to approve permits for both the Tacos & Tequila and Country Rising music festivals.
But for many residents following the debate, the controversy surrounding Vincent’s March 16 email and the conflicting accounts regarding her actual position became almost as contentious as the permits themselves — raising broader questions about transparency, political messaging, and whether residents received a clear and consistent understanding of where elected officials truly stood as Franklin moved forward with approving the events.
