Poth's General: City Backs Eichmann’s “Official” Town Hall While Salous and Residents Are Sidelined

Poths General: City Backs Eichmann’s “Official” Town Hall While Salous and Residents Are Sidelined

By Franklin Community News

Out-of-district alderwoman — aligned with Mayor Nelson, Supervisor Steve Taylor, and developer Mike Zimmerman — promoted as the public face of the project, while the district’s own alderman is left out.

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Back in August, FCNewsWI published “From Promises to Revisions,” documenting how the bold original vision for Poths General — a hotel, band shell, food truck court, and more than 400 apartments — had already been pared back. Now, new details reveal the plan continues to evolve. But what hasn’t changed is the sense among residents that Franklin politics, not just planning, are shaping the outcome.

The New Plan on the Table

At the July 1 Council meeting, the developer presented a scaled-down proposal. The unit count fell from 426 to 312. The hotel, band shell, and food truck plaza were eliminated. Two-story apartments now ring the perimeter, with 12 townhomes added on the north side. Inside, five buildings are slated for three to four stories, two of them mixed-use. The 76th Street frontage is now reserved for additional commercial space. Demolition is targeted for December, with construction to follow (see Timeline Sidebar).

The changes show adjustment — but for neighbors, the project still looms large.

Citizen Concerns: Who Pays and Who Sits in Traffic?

During public comment, residents zeroed in on two points: money and mobility.

If the project is as marketable as claimed, why does the developer need financial backing from the City of Franklin? Talk of a TIF subsidy has already taken place in closed session, raising concerns about transparency and fairness.

Traffic remains the other flashpoint. With a new light planned between Pick ’n Save and Harry’s Ace Hardware, drivers on 76th Street may face a signal roughly every 105 yards — four in less than a half-mile. As one neighbor remarked, “It’s like driving a football field and stopping every time.”

Even scaled back, residents warn, the development’s density and congestion risks haven’t been solved.

Politics in Play: Salous vs. Eichmann

The controversy has become as political as it is practical. Alderman Nabil Salous, who represents the district, held a neighborhood meeting on August 13 to hear directly from residents. The city offered no support — no flyers, no social media, no mailing. It was left to word of mouth (see Timeline Sidebar).  Additional Note....Salous asked to have representatives from Poth's General at his meeting and they refused.

Meanwhile, Alderwoman Michelle Eichmann, whose
district does not include the development, is headlining a city-promoted town hall on October 2 at the Franklin Library. This time, the city rolled out polished graphics and official promotion.

The imbalance came into sharper focus at the September 2 Common Council meeting, when Eichmann chastised Salous. She criticized him for skipping a school district referendum meeting on development impacts in order to hold his own town hall with constituents about Poths General (see Timeline Sidebar).

For residents, Salous’ choice was straightforward: meet with the people most affected. But Eichmann’s criticism — coupled with the city’s backing of her event and neglect of his — underscored the sense that Franklin is favoring an alderwoman aligned with the developer and her allies, including Mayor John Nelson, Supervisor Steve Taylor, and developer Mike Zimmerman over the district’s elected representative.

Social Media Tension: Posts Appear, Then Vanish

On September 29, the Poth's debate spilled over into the Franklin WI Community Discussion Group.

• Alderwoman Eichmann posted the city-produced graphic reminding residents to attend the October 2 town hall. In the comments, she called it “the official city town hall meeting on Poths General” and said she would be there as Council President, joined by the mayor and “possibly Alderman Salous.” She also claimed city leaders had missed the August 13 meeting because of a school referendum conflict.

• Danielle Kenney, a close ally of Nelson and Eichmann, made a separate post asking what residents’ concerns are about Poths General. She replied repeatedly to commenters — including one who noted that Steve Taylor and Mike Zimmerman were tied to earlier Franklin development projects and to the launch of Land By Label with Jim Pekar. Kenney responded by sharing screenshots from Land By Label’s website showing that Zimmerman and Taylor are not currently listed (see Kenney’s Political Ties Sidebar).

On both Eichmann’s post and Kenney’s post, I commented directly — as myself, not under Franklin Community News:

📌 Quote

“Why is an alderwoman from outside the district calling the meeting at all?
Why was Alderman Salous, who represents the district, forced to rely on residents going door-to-door to notify neighbors about his August 13 meeting, while Eichmann’s event is backed with professional graphics, city social media, and even a mailing?”

By the next morning, both Eichmann’s post and Kenney’s post had disappeared (see Timeline Sidebar).

For many residents, that disappearance only deepens suspicion. If the city and its allies — Nelson, Taylor, Zimmerman, and Eichmann — are truly committed to transparency, what are they afraid of when the hard questions get asked?

📌 Sidebar: Kenney’s Political Ties

• Ran against Patti Logsdon: Danielle Kenney challenged Logsdon for County Supervisor but was defeated. Her candidacy was widely seen as backed by Steve Taylor, John Nelson, and Michelle Eichmann.

• Strauss lawsuit: Kenney was part of the group that sued the City of Franklin to block the Strauss Brands development project.

• Key ally: That lawsuit was spearheaded by Kelly Hersch, Nelson’s campaign organizer and now Franklin’s Director of Administration.

• Current role: Kenney has reemerged in community forums as a defender of the Poths General project, echoing the positions of Nelson, Taylor, and Eichmann.

Is the “Official” Town Hall Really About a TIF?

With no public TID proposal yet on record for Poth's General, some residents now wonder if the October 2 town hall is less about “listening” and more about building political cover for a subsidy.

The city has thrown its full communications machine behind the event — professionally designed graphics, official social media, and even mailers — while Alderman Salous’ grassroots meeting in August received none of that support. Add in the presence of the mayor, the council president, and other city officials, and the picture starts to look less like a neutral update and more like a campaign.

If the developer needs a TIF to move forward, an “official” town hall could serve to manufacture consensus: showcase city leadership standing together, minimize dissent, and then point to the meeting as proof of “community engagement.”

For neighbors who fear another Ballpark Commons–style deal, that possibility is exactly why they’re speaking out now — and why they’re skeptical of who’s hosting the conversation.

📌 Sidebar: What is a TIF?

• Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) is a tool cities use to help fund development.

• A TIF district locks in today’s property tax base. As property values rise from new development, the increment (the extra tax revenue) is diverted to repay project costs.

• In Franklin, this usually means issuing debt up front for infrastructure or subsidies, then paying it off with future tax growth.

• Catch: Until the TIF closes, those new tax dollars don’t go to schools, the county, or the general fund — they stay in the district.

• Supporters say: It makes big projects possible.

• Critics say: It’s a hidden subsidy that shifts risk to taxpayers and diverts money from other public needs.

The Developer Network: Zimmerman, Taylor, Pekar

Behind the political maneuvering are familiar players.

• ROC Ventures & ROC Foundation operate from 7044 S. Ballpark Drive, Suite 300, led by Mike and Joe Zimmerman with County Supervisor Steve Taylor as executive director.

• In January 2024, Land By Label, developer of Poths General, listed its office at Suite 305 in the same building — next door to ROC.

• Jim Pekar, now a Land By Label principal, was publicly described by Zimmerman as his partner in Luxe Golf Bays at Ballpark Commons: “Jim was the perfect match … we’re building a new development company.”

Since then, however, Pekar has split his ties with Zimmerman at Ballpark Commons, moving his focus to Land By Label while Zimmerman remains anchored at ROC. Land By Label now lists a Delafield address and no Zimmerman on its team page (see Proof of Early Involvement Sidebar).

That history — of Pekar breaking from Zimmerman, Zimmerman and Taylor still operating from Ballpark Commons, and Land By Label now pushing Poths General — shows the same circle of players reshuffling positions while remaining deeply tied to Franklin’s biggest development projects.

Purposeful Blight? Questions Around TIF Justification

The Poths General project is moving forward under Land By Label, yet City Hall records show the Orchard View property is owned by INITECH, LLC — a company registered in 2022 with its principal office at developer Jim Pekar’s home address. Pekar, who sold First Choice Ingredients for $453 million in 2021, continues to launch new ventures through both Land By Label and Initech.

To many residents, the site looks like a case of purposeful blight: buildings left unkept, parking lots deteriorating, and tenants pushed out after being told their leases would not be renewed because the buildings were slated for demolition. At least one tenant reportedly moved out before the deal was even approved.

Under Wisconsin law (Wis. Stat. § 66.1105), a TIF district may only be created if the property is truly “blighted,” in need of rehabilitation, or unlikely to attract private development without public assistance. In simple terms: TIF is meant only when no personal or private investment would occur otherwise.

That standard is difficult to square here. With Pekar as both property owner (via Initech) and developer (via Land By Label) — and with a proven track record of financing projects — residents are asking: how can the city credibly claim this project wouldn’t move forward without taxpayer subsidy?

📌 Sidebar: Proof of Early Involvement

• April 2023: Milwaukee Business Journal reported that Land By Label was launched “with the leaders of Ballpark Commons” — a direct link to Mike Zimmerman and ROC Ventures.

• Jim Pekar was highlighted in the same coverage as a “team player in Ballpark Commons buildout.”

• Today: Land By Label’s website no longer lists Zimmerman.

• Resident takeaway: The change fuels belief that Zimmerman was once involved but later split, with Pekar moving forward under Land By Label and Zimmerman remaining at ROC.

What Comes Next

Two dates matter now. On October 2, Eichmann will host her city-backed “update meeting” at the library (see Timeline Sidebar).

A week later, on October 9, the Plan Commission will hold a public hearing on amending PDD 42, the zoning framework that governs the Poths General site. Amending it would give the developer legal clearance to move forward with the revised plan: 312 apartments, townhomes, and expanded commercial space along 76th Street.

For residents, this is where the rubber meets the road. Once PDD 42 is amended, the project moves from “concept” to “approved pathway.” Without that amendment, the developer can’t break ground as currently designed. That makes the October 9 hearing the most consequential moment yet (see Timeline Sidebar).

📌 Sidebar: What is a PDD?

• Planned Development Districts (PDDs) are special zoning designations in Franklin.

• Instead of following standard zoning rules, a PDD lays out a custom set of requirements — covering density, building height, land use, traffic flow, and design features.

• Developers often use PDDs to propose mixed-use projects that wouldn’t fit neatly into traditional zoning categories.

• Any changes to a PDD — like the amendments now sought for Poths General — must go through a public hearing and then approval by the Plan Commission and Common Council.

• For residents, this means a PDD amendment is a crucial moment: once approved, it locks in the rules the developer can build under.

Upcoming Hearing:

• When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.

• Where: Franklin City Hall, Council Chambers (9229 W. Loomis Road).

• Purpose: Public hearing on amending PDD 42, which governs the Poths General site.

📌 Sidebar: Poths General Timeline

• July 1, 2025 – Developer revises plan: unit count drops from 426 to 312; hotel, band shell, and food truck plaza removed. Narrative: Project scaled back, but still dense and controversial.

• August 13, 2025 – Alderman Nabil Salous hosts a neighborhood meeting. Residents distribute notices door-to-door. Narrative: Salous engages his constituents without city support.

• September 2, 2025 – Common Council meeting. Eichmann chastises Salous for holding his town hall instead of attending the school referendum meeting. Narrative: Political clash highlights imbalance of support.

• September 29, 2025 – Facebook debate. Eichmann posts city-backed graphic; Kenney posts separately asking for concerns. I comment on both. By morning, both posts are gone. Narrative: Disappearance deepens suspicion.

• October 2, 2025 – City-backed “official” town hall at Franklin Library, led by Eichmann with support from Mayor Nelson. Narrative: Out-of-district alderwoman promoted over the district’s elected rep.

• October 9, 2025 – Plan Commission hearing on PDD 42.
  Location: Franklin City Hall, Council Chambers, 6:30 p.m.
  Narrative: The decisive step — amendment would secure the developer’s legal path forward, with political insiders aligned and residents demanding their voices be heard.

The Greater Good

At its core, the Poths General debate is about more than one development. It’s about who Franklin works for — its residents, or a small circle of political insiders and developers.

Franklin has faced this crossroads before. When decisions are made behind closed doors, when the city’s communications machinery backs one faction over another, and when honest questions disappear from public view, trust erodes. The community deserves better.

As one resident reminded the Council, “the greater good is not served by favoring developers over neighborhoods.”

Now is the time for citizens to make their voices heard. Show up on October 2 at the Franklin Library. Speak out on October 9 at City Hall when the Plan Commission considers amending PDD 42.

This is your city. Your neighborhood. Your future. The greater good depends on you.

📌 Call to Action: Make Your Voice Heard

The October 9 Plan Commission hearing isn’t just another meeting — it’s the decision point.

• If PDD 42 is amended, the developer gets a legal pathway to build 312 apartments, townhomes, and commercial space as proposed.

• If residents don’t show up, city officials can claim the project has community support and move it forward without opposition.

• If you speak out, commissioners are forced to hear — on the record — concerns about traffic, financing, fairness, and transparency.

Franklin’s future shouldn’t be decided by insiders alone.

📅 When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 — 6:30 p.m.
📍 Where: Franklin City Hall, Council Chambers, 9229 W. Loomis Road

Your voice matters. Your neighborhood matters. The greater good depends on you.

Franklin Community News will keep pressing for answers. We will not be silenced by political pressure. We will continue to investigate, expose, and report on corruption in Franklin. Please support us by liking our page on Facebook: Franklin Community News.

⚾ Ballpark Commons Valuation Jumps 64% — While Velo Village Plummets

 

By Franklin Community News

State report shows sharp swings in Franklin’s TID valuations — raising questions about fairness, accuracy, and who benefits.

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Fast Facts from Our Investigation

• $50M jump with no construction: Ballpark Commons (TID 005) shot up 64% in one year despite no major new building.

• Strauss doubles: Strauss (TID 006) soared by 176%, raising eyebrows about how values can shift so drastically.

• Velo Village drops: Velo Village (TID 007) lost 23% of its value in a single year.

• Corporate Park climbs modestly: Corporate Park (TID 008) rose by 13%, a steady gain compared to the wild swings elsewhere.

• Carma Labs skyrockets: Carma Labs (TID 009) jumped 247%, far beyond initial consultant estimates.

• Missed shortfall payments: Zimmerman’s Ballpark Commons project skipped nearly $935K in obligations — forcing Franklin into court (Case No. 24-CV-7479).

• Revaluation reset: In 2024, Franklin hired a new assessor (Forward Appraisal, LLC) under a contract guided by Director of Administration Kelly Hersh, a Nelson campaign ally.

• Political connections: Steve Taylor helped push The Rock through City Hall, later landing a job at the ROC Foundation. Nelson and Eichmann have been its loudest backers on Council.

• Winners & losers: Developers benefit from favorable reassessments; taxpayers bear the risk if values don’t hold.

• Citizen voices matter: The next Franklin Common Council meeting is Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. — a chance for residents to demand transparency and accountability.

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Equalization Bureau released its official 2025 Statement of Changes in TID Value for Franklin (August 8, 2025). According to this report, some properties in Franklin’s five active TIDs jumped in value by tens of millions, while others lost nearly a quarter of their worth.

• Ballpark Commons (TID 005): +$50.6M (+64%)

• Strauss(TID 006): +$47.2M (+176%)

• Velo Village (TID 007): –$11.8M (–23%)

• Corporate Park (TID 008, Oak Creek–Franklin SD): –$17.5M (13%)

• Carma Labs (TID 009): +$30.2M (+247%)  

These swings directly affect who pays for Franklin’s TID debt: the developers or the taxpayers. And with ROC Ventures (led by Mike Zimmerman) already in court with the City over a TID 5 shortfall, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

📊 Key TID Valuation Changes

TID / Area	2024 Value	2025 Value	Change	% Change
Ballpark Commons (TID 005)	$78.8M	$129.3M	+ $50.6M	+64%
Strauss (TID 006)	$26.9M	$74.1M	+ $47.2M	+176%
Velo Village (TID 007)	$50.9M	$39.1M	- $11.8M	-23%
Corporate Park (TID 008)	$134.9M	$152.4M	- $17.9M	+13%
Carma Labs (TID 009)	$12.3M	$42.5M	+ $30.2M	+247%

The Shortfall and the Lawsuit

In 2024, Franklin officials said the developer at Ballpark Commons failed to pay a required shortfall — nearly $935,000. The Common Council authorized litigation, and the City filed suit in Milwaukee County Circuit Court (Case No. 24-CV-7479) against BPC Master Developer, LLC and Mike Zimmerman.

Court-document summaries reported by FCN indicate the developer later paid $879,682.62 on May 8, 2024, but the City is still seeking reimbursement for attorneys’ fees (~$53,000). As of mid-2025, Council agendas show the case is still active in closed session — with no public resolution yet.

Hypothetical Analysis #1: Is City Hall Protecting The Rock?

The sharp rise in Ballpark Commons’ valuation, combined with missed shortfall payments and an ongoing lawsuit, raises a troubling possibility: Is Franklin’s leadership protecting the developer instead of the taxpayers?

$50M Jump With No Construction
In one year, Ballpark Commons’ value leapt by 64% ($78.8M → $129.3M), even though no major new construction occurred. Normally, a spike like this comes from actual investment. Here, the leap appears to come from reassessment

One explanation could be simple political protection. If City leadership views Zimmerman as a key partner in Franklin’s growth narrative, they may have quietly tolerated non-payment — hoping reassessment would “fix the math.”

“ If the numbers don’t match reality, who are they really protecting — the taxpayers or The Rock? 

Valuations as Bailout

When the valuation spiked, the shortfall all but disappeared on paper. Suddenly, the TID looked like it was producing enough revenue to stand on its own. That meant Zimmerman no longer had to make up the gap.

From a taxpayer perspective, this looks like a bailout without transparency: instead of the developer writing a check, the numbers were massaged until the problem vanished.

Taylor & Zimmerman’s Financial Gain

Zimmerman directly benefits from a higher valuation that wipes away his shortfall obligations. Steve Taylor — who pushed The Rock through as Alderman and Supervisor — later landed a job as Executive Director of the ROC Foundation. That role let him oversee government relations and operations for The Rock, drawing a paycheck tied to the project he helped push forward. Both men gained financially while taxpayers held the risk.

The Role of City Hall Staff & the New Assessor

These valuation swings didn’t happen in isolation. Franklin completed a city-wide revaluation in 2024 under a new 2024–2026 contract with Forward Appraisal, LLC. Director of Administration Kelly Hersh — who worked on Mayor John Nelson’s campaign and was advanced as the only finalist for her position despite not meeting the posted qualifications — was listed as the City’s point of contact on the assessor RFP. With Hersh guiding the procurement and the new assessor presenting directly to the Common Council, Franklin’s property values were reset across the city. The outcome: Ballpark Commons’ $50M spike and Velo Village’s dramatic swings, shifts that neatly eased Zimmerman’s shortfall pressure while raising taxpayer concerns about whether political loyalty outweighed independent assessment standards.

Winners and Losers

• Winners: Zimmerman, who avoids paying shortfalls; Taylor, who parlayed political influence into a paid role at the ROC Foundation; City Hall leaders, who can claim success; political allies like Nelson and Eichmann, who gain credit for “supporting development.”

• Losers: Taxpayers, left exposed if values collapse; residents, whose trust in government erodes.

Hypothetical Analysis #2: A Balancing Act That Benefits The Rock

Looking at all five TIDs together, a pattern emerges: one drops, another rises, but Zimmerman still comes out ahead.

• Strauss (TID 006) more than doubled (+176%), raising questions about how such dramatic swings can happen in a single year.

• Velo Village (TID 007) fell sharply, losing 23% of its value.

• Corporate Park (TID 008) climbed modestly by 13% — not nearly as dramatic as the others, but enough to tip the balance sheet upward.

• Carma Labs (TID 009) skyrocketed by 247%, far beyond the $30M valuation that even consultants once doubted.

The net effect: despite two TIDs losing value, the sharp gains in Strauss, Carma Labs, and Ballpark Commons leave the overall TID picture looking stronger. Conveniently, that reduces pressure on Zimmerman’s shortfall obligations — shifting the benefit to the developer while taxpayers still shoulder the risk.

The net effect: the math balances in a way that relieves pressure on Zimmerman’s obligations — at the public’s expense.“One project’s value drops, another shoots up — and somehow, it all adds up to protecting Zimmerman from paying shortfalls.”

Best-Case Scenario: What If This Really Is for the Greater Good?

If these values truly reflect market strength, Franklin taxpayers could still come out ahead:

• Ballpark Commons (+64%), Strauss (+176%), and Carma Labs (+247%) together push TID values far higher than forecast.

• Corporate Park (+13%) adds steady growth, even if modest.

• Velo Village (–23%) drops, but the overall balance remains strongly positive.

In this scenario, TIDs cover their own debt, no shortfalls are needed, and Franklin could even retire TID debt early. That would free up millions in new property tax base for schools, parks, and essential services — achieving the very goal TIDs were designed for.

But for this outcome to be credible, the valuations must be transparent, consistent, and free from political influence. Without that, what looks like a best-case win could instead be a carefully engineered bailout.

“In the best case, taxpayers win: the debt is paid off early, the schools and city get a bigger tax base, and the community benefits for generations.can 

Call to Action: Make Your Voice Heard

Franklin’s future will be shaped not just by numbers on a report, but by the choices of our elected officials.

The next Franklin Common Council meeting is Tuesday, October 7 at 6:30 p.m. — and citizen voices need to be heard.

Why show up?

• To remind Council members that transparency and accountability are not optional — especially when millions in TID dollars are at stake.

• To demand answers about dramatic swings in property valuations, why shortfall payments were missed, and whether taxpayers or developers are really carrying the risk.

• To insist that residents — not political insiders or campaign allies — set the priorities for Franklin’s future, and that public trust cannot be sacrificed for private gain.

• To show that Franklin taxpayers will not be silenced, even when figures like Zimmerman, Taylor, Nelson, and Eichmann try to frame The Rock as untouchable.

This is not just about spreadsheets or court filings. It’s about fairness, trust, and protecting the community we all share. Every voice matters — and your presence can help ensure Franklin’s leaders put residents first.

The Bottom Line

Franklin residents deserve clarity. Litigation over unpaid shortfalls, combined with sudden multi-million-dollar valuation swings, raises real questions of accountability.

But if the numbers truly reflect growth and stability, the community could ultimately benefit — paying off the TID early and expanding Franklin’s tax base for the greater good.

Franklin Community News will keep pressing for answers. We will not be silenced by political pressure. We will continue to investigate, expose, and report on corruption in Franklin. Please support us by liking our page on Facebook: Franklin Community News.

When County Leaders Cry ‘Crisis’ but Cash In

By Franklin Community News

A Crisis of Standards

Today the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Milwaukee County Board Chair Marcelia Nicholson spent more than $13,000 in donor funds on Uber and Lyft rides, cocktails, and candy. (Read the JSOnline story here.)

That revelation underscores a deeper problem: at the very moment County leaders are telling residents the budget is in crisis and warning of looming fiscal cliffs, Nicholson and her close allies — Supervisors Kathleen Vincent and Steve Taylor — are flouting the very standards they demand of others.

Nicholson and Vincent have quietly padded expenses, omitted conflicts, and misused staff. Taylor, meanwhile, has loudly postured as a budget hawk, even as the nonprofit he runs has bled money year after year. Together, they embody a troubling double standard: austerity for the public, perks for themselves.

📢 Crisis for Thee, Perks for Me

While County leaders warn of a “fiscal cliff” and tell residents to brace for service cuts:

• Marcelia Nicholson billed taxpayers for a $2,600 Milwaukee Athletic Club membership.

• Kathleen Vincent expensed nearly $700 in clothing and accessories

• Steve Taylor collected a $75,000 salary from the ROC Foundation while it posted three straight years of deficits. T

They preach austerity for the public. Their own records tell a very different story.

Nicholson: Donor Cash Meets County Perks

Nicholson’s private spending spree is mirrored by her public use of county dollars.Her 2023 Statement of Economic Interests reveals she billed taxpayers more than $2,600 for a membership at the Milwaukee Athletic Club.

She also charged nearly $4,000 in office “décor” and accessories — tumblers, tote bags, rollerblades, flowers, even tinsel. Travel records show another $3,600 for conferences and hotel stays, including an overnight in Madison for the Governor’s State of the State address.

Nicholson positions herself as a progressive voice of fiscal responsibility, but her filings suggest a pattern of privilege and self-benefit. She asks residents to sacrifice for the county budget even as she treats public funds as a personal expense account.

Vincent: Omission and Misuse

Supervisor Kathleen Vincent offers a different but equally troubling case. On her December 20, 2023 SEI, she failed to disclose her elected position as President of the Greendale School Board — an omission of a fiduciary office that directly overlaps with her county role.

That omission shields potential conflicts from public view, precisely what the disclosure law is meant to prevent.

At the same time, Vincent and Supervisor Taylor came under fire for directing their shared county legislative aide to attend at least five Milwaukee County Circuit Court hearings that had nothing to do with county business. The estimated cost — $141.80 in taxpayer-funded staff time — exceeded the $50 misuse threshold under the Milwaukee County Code of Ethics.

Vincent also expensed nearly $700 in clothing and accessories — including Adidas polos, a Columbia jacket, and headphones — calling them “office expenditures.” For constituents watching services cut back, such self-serving perks ring hollow.

Taylor: The Budget Hawk with Red Ink in His Own House

If Nicholson spends freely and Vincent omits conflicts, Supervisor Steve Taylor represents the biggest double standard of all. Taylor has spent months posturing as the County’s budget hawk, warning colleagues and the press that “the sky is falling” on Milwaukee County finances. Yet his own record running the ROC Foundation suggests he cannot balance even a small nonprofit’s books.

According to ROC’s 2023 IRS Form 990EZ, the Foundation once again ran at a deficit:

• Revenue: $146,733

• Expenses: $148,258

• Deficit: –$1,525

• Year-end Fund Balance: –$24,664

This marked the third straight year of red ink, with nearly $40,000 in cumulative losses since 2021.

The failures were clearest in fundraising. The ROC golf tournament, once touted as its flagship event, barely broke even — in 2022 Taylor actually lost money after rental costs swallowed proceeds. The 2023 jersey auction fared no better, with expenses nearly matching revenue.

All the while, Taylor drew a salary and benefits exceeding $75,000 annually — far more than ROC paid out in grants most years. In effect, the Foundation has become a vehicle for Taylor’s paycheck, not community benefit.

Taylor’s own disclosures compound the problem. In December 2023, he was forced to amend his Statement of Economic Interests twice after reporters found he had failed to disclose both his ROC employment and his private firm, Steve Taylor Consulting, LLC.

Even now, his associations with entities like Engage Franklin remain blurred, raising questions about transparency.

💬 Taylor’s Rhetoric vs. Reality

“It’s not good. It’s not good at all. We’re going to have a tough budget.”

— Supervisor Steve Taylor, July 2024

Yet under his leadership, the ROC Foundation lost nearly $40,000 over three years, while he still collected a $75,000 annual salary.

A Pattern, Not a Fluke

Together, these cases form a troubling picture. Nicholson billing both donors and taxpayers for perks. Vincent omitting elected offices and misusing staff. Taylor running a nonprofit into the ground while drawing a salary and preaching fiscal restraint.

These aren’t isolated errors. They represent a consistent pattern in which the rules apply to everyone else but not to the insiders themselves.

As Milwaukee County stares down another supposed budget crisis, taxpayers are 
right to ask: if Nicholson, Taylor, and Vincent cannot responsibly manage their own accounts, disclosures, and organizations, why should anyone trust them with the stewardship of a $1.47 billion county budget?

📢 Not Hawks, Just Hypocrites

• Nicholson styles herself a progressive voice but treats taxpayer dollars as a personal perk fund.

• Vincent brands herself a dedicated public servant yet hides conflicts and misuses staff.

• Taylor proclaims himself a budget hawk while running a nonprofit deep into the red.

This is not just a matter of bookkeeping. It is a matter of integrity, transparency, and public trust.

And as Franklin Community News has always said — exposing corruption, double standards, and self-dealing is not about partisanship.

It is for the Greater Good.

Crank It Up: A Decade of Noise, Politics & Taxpayer Waste at The Rock

By Franklin Community News

🔑 Key Points: 

• “Crank up the sound” — developer Mike Zimmerman and ally Steve Taylor brushed off residents’ early concerns, setting the tone for a decade of disregard.

• Emergency Meeting, Sept. 2023 — Mayor Nelson, Zimmerman, Taylor, and Hersh mocked residents, calling them “terrorists”, “Karens”, and “crazy.”

• UDO Changed in 2025 — Franklin raised legal noise caps from 55 dB ➝ 65 dB, despite residents saying they could hear concerts “word for word” inside their homes.

• County RSG Study ($200k) — validated residents’ complaints but was blocked by Zimmerman, monitors left broken, and recommendations ignored.

• JPM Study ($78.5k) — approved in Feb. 2025 but delayed for months; Zimmerman only signed after Nelson confronted him at the Umbrella Bar in August. The study began after the Milkmen season, making results meaningless.

• Complaints vs. “No Data” — Nelson admits he reviews complaints with the police chief weekly. No citations issued because monitors were broken and unrepaired, producing junk data.

• Umbrella Bar Loophole — Franklin’s Tavern Music License (§ 121-7) allows “music of any kind or description” under a Class B license. Zimmerman uses this vague wording to justify outdoor DJs on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, while hosting live bands on Saturdays without proper permits. Consultants recommended an in-house system with auto-limiting DSP, but Franklin never required it.

• Political Shield —

  • Zimmerman donated the $735 max to Nelson’s campaign.

  • Hosted a fundraiser at Luxe Golf Bays ($363 in-kind).

  • Used Blend for campaign support (unreported).

  • Taylor and Hersh doubled as Nelson’s campaign team.

  • Result: ordinances bent, consultants ignored, residents dismissed.

• Taxpayer Waste — Nearly $300,000 spent on studies with no enforceable results.

• Residents’ Demands:

  • Enforce § 121-9 — require all outdoor amplified music (live or DJ) to obtain an Extraordinary Entertainment and Special Event Permit.

  • Amend Class B ordinance to tie amplified music to compliance.

  • Require an in-house, city-controlled sound system at the Umbrella Bar.

  • Repair and calibrate all monitors before new data is accepted.

  • Tie compliance to licenses and permits — revoke if necessary.

  • Launch a public dashboard for transparency.

  • End political protection — no more campaign-finance shields.

🎵 Prologue: It Started With Four Words

When The Rock Sports Complex was first proposed, neighbors didn’t object to baseball — they feared the noise. Fireworks, concerts, loudspeakers, late-night music at the Umbrella Bar. Their pleas for safeguards were brushed aside.

Developer Mike Zimmerman and political ally Steve Taylor summed up their response in four words:

“Crank up the sound.”

That dismissive phrase set the tone for more than a decade: louder events, bent ordinances, wasted tax dollars, and political protection for The Rock.

🏗️ A Project Built on Volume

The Rock didn’t rise out of nowhere — it was engineered through politics.

Steve Taylor, wearing two hats as both a Franklin alderman and a Milwaukee County Supervisor, was at the center of the deal. Records show he helped broker the sale of the County-owned Crystal Ridge property to Mike Zimmerman for just $1【County Resolution 17-XXX, 2017】. Taylor also pushed through the rezoning, leading the project from both sides of government.

In the early 2010s, neighbors warned about noise: fireworks, concerts, loudspeakers, and the Umbrella Bar. They urged safeguards before the project broke ground. But with Taylor driving the approvals as both city and county official, those concerns were brushed aside.

Economic development won. Residents lost peace.

💵 Sidebar: The $1 Deal

Year	Action	Key Players	Notes
2010–2012	Early rezoning discussions	Steve Taylor (Franklin alderman & County Supervisor)	Taylor pushes rezoning at both city and county levels.
2017	Milwaukee County Resolution 17-XXX approves sale of Crystal Ridge property	Milwaukee County Board; Steve Taylor	Property transferred to Zimmerman/ROC Ventures for $1.
2018	Franklin approvals for Ballpark Commons (TID No. 5, road changes, agreements)	Franklin Common Council; Taylor as alderman	City-level approvals clear way for construction.

🚨 The “Emergency” Meeting That Brutalized Trust

September 21, 2023, Mayor John Nelson convened what he called an “emergency meeting” with Zimmerman, Taylor, City Administrator Kelly Hersh, and Ald. Jason Craig.

According to Wisconsin Right Now:

• Taylor called residents “terrorists,” “idiots,” and worse.

• Zimmerman dismissed Supervisor Patti Logsdon as “crazy.”

• Hersh suggested branding neighbors as “too emotional” or “Karens.”

“Residents weren’t heard. They were mocked.”

No apology followed. No accountability. For neighbors, it confirmed what they had long suspected: City Hall wasn’t listening — it was laughing.

📢 When Rules Get Louder

Franklin’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) capped Milkmen game noise at

55 dB at the property line.

But in May 2025, the Common Council raised the ceiling:

• 65 dB for Milkmen games

• 60 dB for food-truck events

Residents erupted. Joy Draginis-Zinggles testified:

“I hear every word of the bands every Saturday in my home… in our bedrooms… it’s disruptive.”

Dana Gindt added:

“We could hear the games even last year when they were operating at 55dB.

Instead of enforcing the law, Franklin rewrote it to accommodate Zimmerman.

🏛️ County Steps In — and Gets Blocked

In 2023, Milwaukee County spent $200,000 on a noise study. It confirmed residents’ complaints: sound traveled two miles.

Zimmerman’s response? Deny access. By then, two monitors were broken, one hadn’t been calibrated in years, and the study was compromised.

Supervisor Patti Logsdon pushed for a lawsuit:

“It’s time to sue if they don’t adhere to the agreement.”

The lawsuit never came. The cycle continued.

🎸 The Umbrella Bar Loophole

The Umbrella Bar has long been Franklin’s loudest flashpoint. On Saturdays, live bands bring in their own sound systems — massive amps and subs — making every show different, louder, and impossible to regulate.

Consultants warned this would be a problem and recommended a city-controlled, in-house system with auto-limiting DSP controls to cap sound at the source. Franklin never required it.

Instead, Zimmerman leaned on Franklin’s Tavern Music License ordinance (§ 121-7), which states:

“Any person holding a Class ‘B’ fermented malt beverage license or a Class ‘B’ intoxicating liquor license who permits in said premises singing or music of any kind or description for the entertainment of persons therein, except the music of any coin-operated phonograph, shall first obtain a tavern music license. The tavern music license shall not permit dancing or a cabaret or floor show. A tavern music license shall permit 

This clause was meant for indoor music or DJs, but Zimmerman has stretched it to justify outdoor DJ sets on Fridays and Sundays. By doing so, he bypasses the Extraordinary Entertainment and Special Event Permit (§ 121-9) process that was designed to regulate outdoor amplified shows.

The effect is clear:

• Saturdays — full live bands, operating outside the tavern music license but unchecked.

• Fridays & Sundays — DJs outdoors, shielded by vague ordinance wording.

Consultants said fix it. Franklin ignored it. Zimmerman exploited it.

Until Franklin enforces its own ordinances and requires all outdoor amplified events — DJ or live — to obtain proper permits, residents will remain trapped in a cycle of sleepless weekends.

🎶 What Good Is a Sound Study Without Control?

Franklin has spent nearly $80,000 on sound studies. But here’s the reality: a study can’t regulate chaos if every band brings its own system.

One weekend it’s a modest duo; the next, a full band with festival-grade subs. Each setup is different. Monitoring can measure it, but it can’t enforce it.

The only solution is what consultants already recommended: a dedicated in-house system with auto-limiting DSP. Without it, every study is a paper shield — recording problems but never fixing them.

📊 The $78,500 “Accountability” Study — Stalled Into Uselessness

In February 2025, the Franklin Common Council unanimously approved a $78,500

contract with JPM Acoustics to finally bring accountability to The Rock after years of frustration.

On paper, it looked like the breakthrough residents had been demanding:

• 1-second A/C-weighted monitoring capable of capturing both music and bass thump in real time.

• 3D acoustic maps to show exactly how sound traveled into neighborhoods.

• Onsite event testing during games and concerts to catch violations as they happened.

• A public-facing dashboard so residents could see the data for themselves.

• Police training to actually enforce citations, rather than shrugging off complaints.

It sounded like real accountability at last.

But then… nothing.

• February passed — no signatures, no equipment installed.

• March came and went — still nothing.

• April, May, June — prime baseball and concert season — still no study.

By midsummer, residents realized what was happening: the contract was being held hostage. The agreement was dated July 11, 2025, but developer Mike Zimmerman refused to sign. The delay stretched on for months, effectively neutering the study before it even began.

By the time the signature finally appeared — August 5, 2025 — the Milkmen’s season was over and the city’s concert series at the Umbrella Bar was winding down. The study designed to measure peak-season noise would instead be launched during the quietest part of the year.

The holdup wasn’t just paperwork. According to multiple sources, Mayor John Nelson had to confront Zimmerman directly at the Umbrella Bar in early August, demanding he sign the long-delayed agreement. After a heated exchange, Zimmerman relented and finally executed the contract.

Even then, cooperation was minimal. Engineers weren’t allowed to repair or recalibrate Franklin’s broken monitors, meaning the study began in September with crippled equipment — and in cooler fall weather that naturally muffles sound.

What was supposed to be Franklin’s most sophisticated accountability tool had already been gutted: delayed into irrelevance, stripped of its teeth, and staged in conditions least likely to capture the real problem.

📉 Complaints vs. “No Data”

At a public council meeting (available on YouTube), Mayor John Nelson openly stated that he personally reviews all noise complaints with the Franklin police chief every Monday morning. He presented this as proof of diligence — but also as justification for inaction. Because the city’s monitors showed no violations, he said, there was nothing to enforce. No citations.

Nelson (Council Meeting, YouTube, 2025):
“Every Monday I sit down with the police chief. We look at the complaints. And based on the data, there are no violations.”
(Watch here)

The problem: those monitors were broken or uncalibrated, and engineers were barred from fixing them. What Nelson described as “clean data” was, in reality, junk data.

Meanwhile, residents testified over and over that they could hear concerts “word for word” in their bedrooms — sometimes with windows closed, TVs on, and doors shut. The mayor’s Monday ritual became symbolic of Franklin’s failure: a cycle where the complaints are real, the monitors are broken, and City Hall hides behind faulty numbers to deny the obvious.

🧩 The Politics of Protection

Zimmerman’s shield isn’t just business — it’s political.

• He gave Nelson the maximum personal donation of $735 — the highest amount legally allowed for an individual under Wisconsin campaign finance law.

• Campaign finance reports show a $363 in-kind donation for a fundraiser at Luxe Golf Bays, one of Zimmerman’s signature venues. The event costs were absorbed by the business, not the campaign.

• Witnesses also reported a separate event at Blend, another Zimmerman-owned business, though no expense was listed in Nelson’s filings — raising questions about unreported in-kind contributions.

• Supervisor Steve Taylor and City Administrator Kelly Hersh — both tied to Zimmerman’s development efforts — sat in on the infamous September 2023 “emergency” meeting where residents were called “terrorists” and “Karens.”

• All three — Zimmerman, Taylor, and Hersh — were part of Nelson’s reelection campaign team, described publicly by Taylor as the mayor’s “inner circle.”

These weren’t incidental overlaps. They were structural alliances:

• Zimmerman’s businesses became campaign venues.

• His checkbook and in-kind contributions became campaign resources.

• Taylor and Hersh became political allies and campaign operatives.

The result is a City Hall that treats residents’ noise complaints as political inconveniences, while treating Zimmerman’s businesses as campaign partners. The machine protects The Rock — and dismisses the people living in its shadow.

💸 Sidebar: What’s the Price of Noise Denial

Year	Study / Proposal	Cost	Outcome
2020	Shen, Milsom & Wilke	$4,795	Never approved
2023	RSG County Study	$200,000	Undermined by access denial
2025	JPM Acoustics (City)	$78,500	Delayed, compromised
Total	—	$283,295	Residents still suffer

🔔 Conclusion: Stop the Games, End the Noise

For more than a decade, Franklin residents have been trapped in a cycle: complain, get dismissed, watch City Hall order another study, and see nothing change. Each round costs more taxpayer money and buys developer Mike Zimmerman more time.

A sound study done under compromised conditions is worse than no study at all. It creates the illusion of accountability while delaying real enforcement.

And behind every delay is politics. Zimmerman didn’t just build The Rock — he built a campaign finance shield:

• His $735 maximum donation went straight to Mayor John Nelson’s campaign.

• His Luxe Golf Bays facility hosted a fundraiser, logged as a $363 in-kind contribution.

• His Blend business was used for campaign support, though no expense was reported in filings.

• His allies — Supervisor Steve Taylor and City Administrator Kelly Hersh — weren’t just city officials. They sat at Nelson’s strategy table, doubling as his reelection campaign inner circle.

Together, they created a revolving door between City Hall and Zimmerman’s businesses:

• Campaign money in.

• Noise enforcement out.

With The Rock doubling as both a campaign venue and a donor base, it’s no surprise Franklin has bent ordinances, ignored consultants, and treated residents as nuisances rather than constituents. This is not just a failure of policy — it’s a failure of integrity.

💰 Sidebar: The Campaign Finance Shield

Contributor / Venue	Type of Support	Amount / Value	Notes
Mike Zimmerman	Direct Campaign Donation	$735	Maximum personal donation allowed under WI law
Luxe Golf Bays	In-kind Fundraiser (venue)	$363	Event costs absorbed by Zimmerman’s business
Blend (Zimmerman-owned)	Campaign event support	Unreported	Witnesses confirm use; not listed in Nelson’s filings
Steve Taylor	Campaign ally / strategist	—	Sat in on 2023 “emergency” meeting; Nelson’s campaign team
Kelly Hersh	Campaign ally / strategist	—	Sat in on 2023 “emergency” meeting; Nelson’s campaign team

📌 Together, these contributions and alliances created a political machine:

• Zimmerman’s money and venues fueled Nelson’s campaign.

• Taylor and Hersh provided political cover inside City Hall.

• In return, ordinances bent, monitors stayed broken, and residents’ voices were dismissed.

📌 What Residents Can Demand Now

• Enforce Franklin’s own ordinances — require all outdoor amplified music, whether live bands or DJs, to obtain an Extraordinary Entertainment and Special Event Permit (§ 121-9) instead of hiding behind the Tavern Music License (§ 121-7).

• Amend Franklin’s Class B ordinance to tie amplified entertainment directly to enforceable noise compliance.

• Require a permanent in-house sound system at the Umbrella Bar with city-approved auto-limiting controls.

• Repair and calibrate all monitors before accepting any new study data.

• Tie compliance to licenses and permits — revoke them if violations continue.

• Launch the promised public dashboard for real-time transparency.

• End political protection — demand campaign finance transparency and stop developers from doubling as campaign hosts.

Franklin doesn’t need another glossy report. It needs leaders who serve residents, not donors. Until then, every dollar spent is wasted, and every dismissed complaint is another sleepless night.

It’s time to stop protecting profits at the expense of people. It’s time to stop playing games with residents’ lives. It’s time, finally, to act — For the Greater Good.