What Team Is Steve Taylor (RINO) Really Playing For?

(RINO) Supervisor Joins Crowley and Evers as Jail Tablet Controversy Grows

By Dr. Richard A. Busalacchi
Franklin Community News
October 10, 2026

Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve F. Taylor, a Republican (RINO) who chairs the County Board's Finance Committee, recently appeared alongside Democratic County Executive David Crowley and Democratic Governor Tony Evers at the ribbon-cutting for Milwaukee County's new crime laboratory.

A photograph of the event captures the three officials together. But beyond the bipartisan appearance, questions remain about Taylor's voting record, financial oversight responsibilities, and engagement (or lack thereof) with the residents he represents in Franklin and Oak Creek.

Those questions have become particularly relevant following Crowley's October 9 decision to suspend inmate tablet messaging at Milwaukee County's Community Reintegration Center (CRC).

The controversy raises a straightforward question: What team is Steve Taylor really playing for—and whose interests is he prioritizing?

Taylor Supported the Jail Tablet Contract Extension

On October 9, Crowley announced that inmate tablet messaging at the CRC would be suspended pending additional safeguards intended to protect victims and prevent witness intimidation.

Crowley also urged Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball to take similar action at the County Jail.

The decision represented a significant change in the administration's position on a program that had previously received support from county officials, including Taylor.

Importantly, the suspension concerns inmate tablet messaging, not all tablet services.

Read Milwaukee County Executive Crowley's October 9 announcement.

Taylor's involvement in the underlying contract is documented in Milwaukee County legislative records.

On March 13, 2025, while serving as vice chairman of the Finance Committee, Taylor voted YES to recommend a three-year amendment to the county's agreement with ICSolutions.

The Finance Committee advanced the amendment by a narrow 4–3 vote.

On March 13, 2025, the Milwaukee County Finance Committee voted 4–3 to recommend extending the ICSolutions inmate communications contract through March 2028. Voting YES were Supervisors Steve F. Taylor, Sequanna Taylor, Shawn Rolland and Finance Committee Chairman Willie Johnson Jr. Voting NO were Supervisors Juan Miguel Martinez, Justin Bielinski and Anne O'Connor. The motion was introduced by Supervisor Shawn Rolland.

Taylor was one of four supervisors whose affirmative votes advanced the contract extension despite opposition from three committee members.

Source: Milwaukee County Legislative File 25-222

One week later, on March 20, Taylor again voted YES when the full County Board approved the amendment by a 16–0 vote.

The amendment continued inmate communications services, including tablet messaging, through March 2028.

The original agreement carried an initial contract value of approximately $5.3 million. That figure should not be confused with the cost of the 2025 amendment, whose value was listed as unknown.

The amendment also included provisions for Milwaukee County to receive approximately $100,000 annually from premium tablet-service revenue.

Taylor was not serving on the County Board when the original agreement was approved in 2022. Nevertheless, his subsequent votes supported extending the arrangement.

Now that Crowley has reversed course on tablet messaging, will Taylor explain whether he continues to support the extension he voted to approve?

Official records: Milwaukee County File 25-222 — ICSolutions Contract Amendment, Resolution and Fiscal Note

Previous FCN reporting: Taylor Says “Fake News” Got the Jail Tablet Story Wrong. Here's What the Record Actually Shows.

Where Are Taylor's Budget-Listening Sessions?

As chairman of the Finance Committee, Taylor holds an influential position in Milwaukee County's annual budget process.

The committee reviews proposed spending, evaluates financial priorities and makes recommendations that directly affect county services and taxpayers.

For residents of Franklin and Oak Creek, those responsibilities make constituent engagement especially important.  After all remember, the missing in action Taylor is our County Supervisor.  Oak Creek have you ever seen Taylor at the Oak Creek 4th of July Parade?....of course not he is too busy pretending to be important in Franklin with his pals Mayor John Nelson and Common Council President Michelle Eichmann.  Do you ever remember Taylor celebrating Independence Day with Oak Creek?  Just for perspective Taylor's district includes HALF of Franklin and ALL of Oak Creek.

Steve Taylor, Michele Eichmann, John Nelson

Other Milwaukee County supervisors have demonstrated a willingness to meet directly with residents to discuss budget priorities.

Supervisor Kathleen Vincent conducted two district budget town halls including meetings at the Greenfield Public Library and Greendale Safety Center.

Supervisor Patti Logsdon also has an upcoming budget discussion at the Franklin Public Library.

These meetings provided opportunities for residents to ask questions, identify priorities and discuss the financial decisions facing Milwaukee County.

Taylor has announced formal Finance Committee budget hearings for the 2027 budget process, including an October 14 public hearing.

However, the announced schedule does not identify a dedicated district budget-listening session for residents of Franklin and Oak Creek.  Apparently his own constituents do not matter.  Taylor has run unopposed in the last three elections.

There is an important distinction between chairing a formal committee hearing and personally meeting with constituents in the communities one represents.

Why shouldn't Franklin and Oak Creek residents receive the same opportunity for direct dialogue that residents of other supervisory districts have received?

And if Taylor is confident in his record as Finance Committee chairman, why not hold a public budget-listening session where residents can question him directly?

Taylor's ROC Foundation Financial Record Raises Additional Questions

Taylor's responsibilities as Finance Committee chairman also invite scrutiny of his previous financial-management experience.

As Franklin Community News has previously reported, the ROC Foundation, where Taylor served as a paid executive director, experienced operating losses in four of the five years between 2020 and 2024.

FCN's examination of publicly available nonprofit filings raised questions about executive compensation, program expenditures and the Foundation's financial performance.

Those findings are relevant because Taylor now chairs the committee responsible for reviewing Milwaukee County's multibillion-dollar budget.

In September, FCN also reported that two independent sources indicated Taylor had been asked to step down from his paid position with the ROC Foundation.

That reported departure has not been independently confirmed through employment or payroll records, and it should not be presented as an established fact.

Nevertheless, the Foundation's documented financial history remains a legitimate subject for public examination.

If Taylor is entrusted with reviewing Milwaukee County's finances, shouldn't residents also be able to evaluate his record managing nonprofit resources?

Previous FCN investigations:

Steve Taylor Now Oversees Milwaukee County Finances. His Record at the ROC Foundation Tells a Different Story.

Supervisor Taylor's ROC Foundation: Charity or Charade?

Sources: Steve Taylor Was Asked to Step Down From Paid ROC Foundation Position

A Question of Political Allegiance—or Public Accountability?

The photograph of Taylor standing with Crowley and Evers at the opening of Milwaukee County's new crime laboratory is not, by itself, evidence of political allegiance.

Elected officials from different political parties routinely attend public events together. That cooperation can serve the public interest.

But political appearances also invite scrutiny when they occur alongside unresolved questions about an official's record.

Crowley, the Democratic candidate for governor, is now confronting controversy surrounding inmate tablet messaging—a program whose contract extension received Taylor's support.

Taylor, meanwhile, chairs the Finance Committee responsible for examining the county executive's proposed 2027 budget.

That budget must address significant financial pressures. According to Crowley's October 1 announcement, the proposed spending plan seeks to close an approximately $50 million shortfall while maintaining county services.

Read Milwaukee County's October 1 announcement concerning the proposed 2027 budget.

For Franklin and Oak Creek taxpayers, the stakes extend well beyond partisan labels.

Residents deserve to know how their supervisor evaluates major contracts, scrutinizes county spending and represents their interests during budget negotiations.

They also deserve an explanation of how Taylor's financial-management experience informs his approach to county finances.

The issue is not whether Taylor should appear in photographs with Democrats. The issue is whether he is exercising independent judgment on behalf of the residents who elected him.

Taylor Should Welcome the Questions

Taylor has publicly challenged reporting critical of his record, including referring to Franklin Community News as fake news.

But dismissing a news organization does not resolve questions raised by official voting records, nonprofit financial disclosures or county budget documents.

The March 2025 ICSolutions votes are matters of public record.

The ROC Foundation's financial filings are available for public examination.

And the question of whether Taylor will hold a dedicated district budget-listening session is one he can answer directly.

If Taylor believes his record has been misrepresented, he should explain it—publicly, with supporting documents, and in a setting where residents can ask questions.

That would provide a more meaningful measure of accountability than political labels, photographs or social media exchanges.

The Bottom Line

Steve Taylor is entitled to work with elected officials from either political party. Bipartisan cooperation is not inherently a problem.

However, his responsibilities as Finance Committee chairman demand more than participation in ceremonial events.

They require careful examination of contracts, independent oversight of county spending and meaningful engagement with taxpayers.

The jail tablet controversy provides an immediate opportunity for Taylor to explain his previous votes and his current position.

The 2027 budget process provides another opportunity to demonstrate his commitment to Franklin and Oak Creek residents.

And his record at the ROC Foundation remains relevant to questions about his financial-management experience.

So, what team is Steve Taylor really playing for?

The residents of Franklin and Oak Creek should expect the answer to be demonstrated through his votes, his oversight and his willingness to answer their questions—not through the company he keeps at ribbon-cuttings.

Franklin Community News will continue examining the public records, financial disclosures and official actions relevant to Milwaukee County government and the elected officials representing Franklin and Oak Creek.

Why Did Franklin Call Two Special Meetings for Zimmerman-Associated Rack City?

Why Did Franklin Call Two Special Meetings for Zimmerman-Associated Rack City?

Ballpark Commons venue had already announced its Saturday opening when Franklin convened special Friday-evening License Committee and Common Council meetings—just four days before the regularly scheduled Council meeting

By Dr. Richard Busalacchi
Franklin Community News

Why did the City of Franklin call elected officials to City Hall on a Friday evening for two special meetings involving a single Ballpark Commons business when the next regularly scheduled Common Council meeting was only four days away?

That question arises from the unusual sequence surrounding the opening of Rack City, the new Sports & Social Club at Ballpark Commons associated with developer Mike Zimmerman.

The documented timeline raises questions about why expedited governmental action was necessary, who requested it, and what standards Franklin uses when deciding that a private business matter warrants special meetings rather than waiting for the regular meeting schedule.

Opening Announced Before Council Approval

On September 30, Rack City publicly announced that it would open Saturday, October 3, at 11 a.m.

The announcement appeared on Franklin Today at approximately 8:19 p.m. and promoted the opening around postseason baseball and football:

“THE GAME IS ON.”

The announcement acknowledged that work on the new Sports & Social Club was still being completed but said that, with postseason baseball and football season underway, the business was moving forward with its weekend opening.

Later that evening, at approximately 10:46 p.m., Common Council President Michelle Eichmann posted the Rack City opening announcement on her alderwoman Facebook page.

That means Eichmann was publicly sharing Rack City's planned October 3 opening approximately two days before participating in the special Council meeting—and before making the motion approving the Rack City licensing matter.

There is no evidence that Eichmann's Facebook post caused or influenced the scheduling of the special meetings. It does establish, however, that the announced Saturday opening was publicly known before the Council acted Friday evening.

Two Special Meetings—One Ballpark Commons Business Matter

On Friday, October 2, Franklin scheduled a Special License Committee meeting for 5:50 p.m.

The committee had only one substantive matter on its agenda:

BPC Golf Entertainment, LLC — Name Change: Brick Pizzeria to Rack City — Agent: Tom Johns — 7075 S. Ballpark Drive.

The matter concerned a change in the premise description and doing-business-as name for the licensed alcohol premises.

That distinction is important. The City was not issuing a new alcohol license personally to Zimmerman. The City's records identify BPC Golf Entertainment LLC as the licensed entity and Tom Johns as its agent.

Johns has also served as an agent on other Zimmerman-associated Ballpark Commons matters. The appearance of Johns's name on the Rack City licensing documents therefore should not be confused with ownership of the underlying Ballpark Commons business.

Franklin also scheduled a Special Common Council meeting for 5:50 p.m. that same Friday.

Again, there was only one substantive business item: approval of the BPC Golf Entertainment licensed-premises change from Brick Pizzeria to Rack City.

A Two-Minute Common Council Meeting

Although the Council meeting was scheduled for 5:50 p.m., Mayor John Nelson actually called it to order at 5:54 p.m.

No one spoke during citizen comment.

When Nelson reached the Rack City item, he initially sought a motion before suggesting an opportunity for discussion because some Council members might not have been present previously.

There was essentially no substantive discussion.

Eichmann moved approval.

The motion was seconded, and the Council approved the Rack City matter 5–0, with one alderperson absent.

The Council then adjourned.

The time?

5:56 p.m.

The entire Special Common Council meeting had lasted approximately two minutes.

After adjournment, Nelson made a noteworthy comment to the officials who had come to City Hall:

“Before you guys leave, I just want to say thank you so much for coming. This is a pain in the butt, I realize.”

The mayor's remark acknowledged the inconvenience of assembling officials for the special Friday-evening meeting.

What the meeting did not explain was why doing so was necessary.

Rack City Opens the Next Morning

Less than 18 hours later, Rack City opened at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 3, as its September 30 promotion had announced.

The sequence was:

• September 30, 8:19 p.m. — Franklin Today posts Rack City's October 3 opening announcement.
• September 30, 10:46 p.m. — Eichmann posts the opening announcement on her alderwoman Facebook page.
• October 2, 5:50 p.m. — Special License Committee scheduled with the Rack City licensing matter as its only substantive agenda item.
• October 2, 5:54 p.m. — Special Common Council actually convenes.
• October 2, 5:56 p.m. — Council has approved the Rack City matter and adjourned.
• October 3, 11 a.m. — Rack City opens.
• October 6 — Franklin's regularly scheduled Common Council meeting.

Why Couldn't It Wait Four Days?

That is the central unanswered question.

The issue is not whether Franklin possessed the legal authority to hold special meetings. FCN is not alleging that the meetings violated Wisconsin's notice requirements.

Nor do the available records establish that Zimmerman personally asked Franklin to expedite the matter so Rack City could open that weekend.

But City government nevertheless determined that the matter warranted convening both its License Committee and Common Council specially on a Friday evening rather than waiting four days.

That decision deserves an explanation.

Who requested the October 2 special meetings?

When were they requested?

Who authorized or determined that special meetings were necessary?

Why couldn't the Rack City matter wait until the regularly scheduled meetings?

Was the City aware of Rack City's already-announced October 3 opening when the special meetings were scheduled?

Was the October 3 opening dependent upon receiving the October 2 approval?

What criteria does Franklin use to determine when an individual business licensing matter warrants expedited consideration?

Would the same accommodation be available to any Franklin business facing an opening deadline?

Rack City Was Not the First—But the Comparison Raises Another Question

There is an important qualification.

Franklin has provided similarly expedited consideration to at least one other business during the Nelson administration.

On March 16, 2026, Franklin convened a Special License Committee involving Tail Spin LLC/Tail Spin Pub & Pizza for an entertainment/amusement license.

A Special Common Council meeting followed, approved the matter and adjourned within minutes—even though regularly scheduled meetings were set for the following day.

Tail Spin is located in the aldermanic district represented by Common Council President Michelle Eichmann.

Eichmann also moved approval of the Tail Spin licensing matter.

That means the Tail Spin example demonstrates that Rack City was not the only business to receive expedited consideration.

But it does not necessarily answer the broader question of how widely that accommodation is available.

Instead, the two examples identified so far share several characteristics: both occurred during Mayor John Nelson's administration; both involved paired special licensing and Council action shortly before regularly scheduled meetings; and Eichmann played a role in both matters. Tail Spin is also located within Eichmann's district.

The relevant question therefore is no longer simply:

“Has Franklin ever done this for another business?”

The more important questions are:

“What businesses are eligible for this type of expedited consideration, who decides when it will be provided, and what objective criteria are used?”

The two examples identified by FCN show that Franklin has provided expedited consideration to more than one business. What remains unclear is whether this reflects a defined citywide policy available to all similarly situated businesses or discretionary decisions made on a case-by-case basis.

Rack City Replaces the Former Brick Pizzeria

Rack City is not an entirely new Ballpark Commons location.

It occupies the space previously used by Brick Pizzeria & Ristorante, which opened at Ballpark Commons in June 2023 and closed in July 2026 after approximately three years in operation.

When Brick opened, Ballpark Commons developer Mike Zimmerman publicly promoted the restaurant's arrival. Zimmerman said his family had visited the original Brick restaurant in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and that they were “beyond thrilled” to bring the concept to Franklin.

By July 2026, however, the Franklin restaurant had closed.

Ballpark Commons announced Brick's departure while also signaling that the space would not remain vacant. The development said “an exciting new entertainment experience” would be coming to the former restaurant space.

That replacement became Rack City Sports & Social Club.

The history is particularly relevant to the October 2 special meetings because the City's licensing action did not involve an unrelated business suddenly seeking approval for a new location. The matter before the License Committee and Common Council specifically changed the licensed premises from Brick Pizzeria to Rack City, with BPC Golf Entertainment LLC as the licensed entity and Tom Johns as its agent.

In other words, the October 2 special meetings completed the licensing transition from the former Brick concept to its Rack City replacement immediately before Rack City's publicly announced Saturday opening.

That timing raises another question.

If Brick had closed in July and Ballpark Commons had already announced that a new entertainment concept was coming to the space, how long had Rack City been planned—and why did the necessary licensing change ultimately require two special meetings on the evening before the new concept opened?

The question does not presume that anything improper occurred. But the timeline is relevant: replacement of Brick had been contemplated months before the October 2 special meetings, yet the licensing matter reached City officials through an expedited process immediately before Rack City's opening.

Rack City Is Part of a Much Larger Zimmerman–Ballpark Commons Relationship

The October 2 action also did not occur in isolation.

Zimmerman and Zimmerman-associated entities have had an extensive relationship with Franklin government through the development of Ballpark Commons.

The City's own economic-development materials have described municipal assistance associated with the development, including TIF financing, environmental exceptions, facilitation of special-use permits and other support.

Over the years, Franklin has considered or approved development agreements, zoning changes, special uses, development requirements and other measures affecting Ballpark Commons.

Some of these actions represent conventional municipal economic-development policy and should not automatically be characterized as preferential treatment. Communities routinely use development agreements and incentives when elected officials conclude that a project will generate economic or public benefits.

But several actions provide relevant historical context.

Franklin entered into development arrangements involving Zimmerman-associated entities as Ballpark Commons was developed.

The Council amended development requirements and considered special uses and exceptions associated with the project.

There have also been arrangements involving the timing or deferral of financial obligations.

And in December 2019, Franklin held another Special Common Council meeting involving BPC Golf Entertainment LLC—the same corporate entity appearing in the October 2 Rack City licensing matter.

That earlier matter involved agreements associated with deferred impact fees for the Ballpark Commons golf-entertainment development, with Zimmerman personally appearing in the related documentation.

That does not prove that the October 2 Rack City meeting represented favoritism.

It does demonstrate that BPC Golf Entertainment LLC and Zimmerman-associated Ballpark Commons interests have previously been the subject of special Council action.

Eichmann's Ballpark Commons Record

Eichmann's involvement also extends beyond the October 2 Rack City vote.

During her Council tenure, she has supported multiple governmental actions involving Ballpark Commons, including motions or votes involving development and zoning matters.

She also serves on City bodies with significant roles in business and development matters, including the License Committee, Plan Commission and Economic Development Commission.

On October 2, it was Eichmann who made the motion approving the Rack City matter.

And two days earlier, she had publicly posted Rack City's October 3 opening announcement on her alderwoman Facebook page.

Those facts do not establish that Eichmann arranged the special meetings or provided preferential treatment to Zimmerman.

But her documented support for Ballpark Commons-related matters and her involvement in the Rack City action are relevant context when examining the City's relationship with the development.

Special Access—or a Service Available to Every Business?

There is nothing inherently improper about a municipality helping a business navigate government requirements or responding quickly when circumstances warrant it.

A City interested in economic development arguably should help businesses efficiently navigate its processes.

The public-interest question is whether that assistance is provided according to consistent standards.

If Franklin has an established practice of calling special meetings to help businesses meet legitimate licensing or opening deadlines, then the Rack City and Tail Spin meetings may simply be examples of that policy.

But if there is no defined policy, the City should explain how these decisions are made.

For Rack City, the questions remain straightforward:

Who requested the special meetings?

Why couldn't the matter wait four days?

Did Rack City's publicly announced October 3 opening create the urgency?

Who decided that urgency justified calling elected officials to City Hall on a Friday evening?

What criteria were applied?

And would Franklin provide the same expedited process to another business under comparable circumstances?

Mayor Nelson's own words demonstrate that assembling officials specially was not regarded as insignificant:

“This is a pain in the butt, I realize.”

If calling officials together was inconvenient enough for the mayor to acknowledge it publicly, Franklin residents—and Franklin's other business owners—are entitled to ask:

What Made It Necessary?

Left to Right:  Steve Taylor, John Nelson, Mike Zimmerman