From Promises to Revisions: The Changing Face of Poth's General

 

By Franklin Community News 

The Poth's General Development is one of Franklin’s most closely watched redevelopment projects, located at the southeast corner of South 76th Street and Rawson Avenue, the site of the aging Orchard View Shopping Center.

Originally pitched in 2023 as a neighborhood-friendly mixed-use project, the plan promised apartments, retail, a hotel, and public gathering spaces — all designed to generate less traffic than a big-box shopping center.

Two years later, the reality looks very different. At a July 1, 2025 Common Council meeting, the developer unveiled a downsized version of the project — fewer apartments, lower building heights, no hotel, and the elimination of once-promised public amenities.

The evolution of Poth's General tells a familiar Franklin story: community-friendly promises at the start, followed by denser plans on paper, and finally revisions under pressure.

Residents embraced the vision cautiously, believing buffers and amenities would keep the project neighborhood-friendly.

The 2023 Promises

In June 2023, the developer told neighbors:

• Up to 440 apartments.

• 20,000 square feet of retail and a 50-room hotel.

• Public draws like a food truck plaza and band shell.

• Traffic would be manageable — “less than a 150,000 sq. ft. shopping center,” according to their own talking points.

The 2025 Revisions

Two years later, after vocal opposition and council scrutiny, the project came back downsized:

• 312 apartments (down from 426).

• Hotel, food truck court, and band shell eliminated.

• 12 townhomes added along the north edge.

• Perimeter buildings lowered to 2 stories; interior buildings 3–4 stories.

• New commercial frontage on 76th Street, with mixed-use interior buildings.

• A new traffic signal proposed at the Ace/Pick n’ Save driveway — meaning signals every 105 yards along 76th Street southbound.

• Orchard View Shopping Center demolition scheduled for December 2025.

• Developer requesting financial support from the city behind closed doors.

Traffic & Infrastructure: The Core Battleground

From the very beginning, traffic has been at the center of community concerns. In June 2023, the developer framed the proposal as traffic-friendly, pointing out that 2,440 daily trips would be far less than the 10,130 trips a shopping center might generate.

But residents quickly realized that the issue wasn’t just the number of trips — it was where, when, and how those cars would move through Franklin’s busiest intersection.

What is a TIA?

A Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) is a formal engineering study that evaluates how a proposed development will affect the surrounding roadway network. It looks at traffic volumes, trip generation, peak hours, intersection operations, and long-term roadway capacity.

Cities like Franklin require a TIA before approving large projects to determine:

• How many trips the development will generate.

• Which directions that traffic will flow.

• How it will impact nearby intersections and roads.

• Whether improvements (signals, turn lanes, timing adjustments) are needed to maintain safe and efficient traffic flow.

What the TIA (Traffic Impact Analysis) Showed (Aug 16, 2023)

• The Traffic Impact Analysis for Poths General, prepared by the developer’s engineers, projected:

  • 2,440 daily trips generated by 426 apartments, retail, a hotel, and food court.

  • Compared to a 150,000 sq. ft. shopping center, which could generate 10,130 daily trips — the developer highlighted this difference in their 2023 “talking points.”

  • Traffic distribution:

    • 45% north on 76th Street

    • 25% west on Rawson Avenue

    • 15% east on Rawson Avenue

    • 15% south on 76th Street

  • Peak hour impacts: Morning and evening rush projected to significantly slow traffic at 76th & Rawson.

  • Level of Service (LOS): By 2039, some approaches to that intersection would fall to LOS E/F (unacceptable congestion) without improvements.

  Recommended Mitigations in the TIA:

  • Signal timing adjustments at 76th & Rawson.

  • Turn lane / storage lane extensions to reduce spillback.

  • A new traffic signal at the Pick ’n Save / Ace Hardware entrance.

📊 Traffic Distribution Schematic

Here’s a visual schematic of the Poth's General traffic distribution from the TIA, with arrows showing where trips go (north, south, east, west) and labels marking the clustered traffic signals along 76th Street.

This illustrates the community’s main concern: even with fewer total trips than a shopping center, signal congestion creates gridlock in the corridor.

The July 2025 Update: Signals Every 105 Yards

The revised plan still calls for a new traffic signal — but this adds to an already congested corridor. If built, there will be four signals within about 1,000 feet on 76th Street southbound: Ballpark Commons, Loomis Road, Rawson Avenue, and Ace/Pick n’ Save. That means drivers will hit a red light about every 105 yards.

📊 Clustered Traffic Signals Diagram

Here’s the second diagram, showing the four clustered traffic signals on 76th Street:

• Ballpark Commons

• Loomis Road

• Rawson Avenue

• Ace / Pick n’ Save

With only about 105 yards between each signal, this stretch is almost guaranteed to create gridlock and long queues — one of the community’s strongest objections.

Residents say this is a recipe for:

• Increased congestion as queues overlap between signals.

• Cut-through traffic on neighborhood side streets.

• Pedestrian safety issues with unpredictable gaps for crossings.

As one resident put it:

“It doesn’t matter if it’s 2,400 cars or 10,000 cars — if every one of them has to fight through four red lights in 1,000 feet, it’s a nightmare.”

Category	2023 Promises	2023 Proposed Plans	2025 Revisions
Units	Up to 440	426	312
Hotel	50-room	Planned	Eliminated
Food Truck / Band Shell	Promised	Included	Eliminated
Townhomes	None	None	12 added
Heights	Not specified	3+1 stories, ~146 ft	2 stories perimeter, 3–4 interior
Commercial	20,000 sq. ft retail	Pavilion, plaza, pads	76th St frontage + interior mixed-use
Parking	Not emphasized	1,079 spaces	TBD (likely reduced)
Traffic	“Lower than shopping center”	2,440 trips/day; LOS drop to E/F	New signal at Ace; 4 signals in 1,000 ft
Natural Resources	Buffers preserved	1.18 ac woodland loss, no mitigation	Loss remains
Lighting	Neighborhood-friendly	Hotspots up to 5.1 fc	TBD

Why This Matters

Traffic may be the make-or-break issue for Poth's General. Even in its downsized form, the project still pours thousands of daily trips into Franklin’s most overburdened corridor. The new signal doesn’t solve congestion — it just rearranges it.

For the Council, the question is no longer whether the project creates “less traffic than a shopping center.” The real issue is whether Franklin’s road network — already stretched thin — can absorb yet another dense development without serious quality-of-life trade-offs for existing residents.

Resident Concerns & Community Impact

Many neighbors say the greatest frustration has been the lack of meaningful public input. While presentations were made, residents report feeling that they were told what was going to be built, rather than invited into a genuine planning process.

Against that backdrop, a range of specific concerns has emerged:

• No Appetite for a “Public Square” – From the start, neighbors opposed duplicating Oak Creek’s Drexel Town Square model. A food truck court or band shell might appeal elsewhere, but residents point out these features already exist across the street at Ballpark Commons/The Rock.

• Strong Opposition to Apartments – Surrounding neighbors have made it clear: they do not want more apartment complexes in this location. Yet the plan grew from 8 buildings in early concepts to 14 buildings in the latest revisions, with the majority being multifamily units.

• Loss of Tree Cover – Clearing woodland along the south and east edges would leave existing neighborhoods exposed, reducing buffers and privacy.

• Traffic Projections Understated – Residents believe actual traffic impacts will exceed the developer’s projections, especially when combined with nearby Ballpark Commons traffic and signal clustering on 76th Street.

• Commercial Space Shrinking – The current Orchard View site holds about 100,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. The Poth's plan replaces it with perhaps 18,000 sq. ft. of retail/commercial frontage. Residents argue this permanently shifts the tax burden onto homeowners, since less commercial tax base means more reliance on residential property taxes.

• Local Business Viability – With redevelopment pressure, even existing businesses like Harry’s may not survive the transition, raising questions about whether this plan truly supports the community’s economy.

• Lack of City Vision – Perhaps the most frustrating issue is that City Hall has provided little direction to the developer. Residents note that during a 2022 concept review, one resident (not city leadership) was the only one to articulate a vision. Critics say this absence of planning has left the developer free to maximize density without clear community guidelines.

• The TID Problem, Pay-Go vs. Upfront – Supporters of a new TID say this would be a “pay-go” model — reimbursing the developer only as new tax increment is collected — unlike Ballpark Commons, where the city invested upfront in infrastructure. But residents argue this still diverts money away from schools and services at the very time when hundreds of new residents would be adding demand. As one opponent put it: “Every new kid in school goes for free, while the taxes that should fund their education are locked away in the TID.”

The Financing Fight: Should Taxpayers Fund Poth's General?

Beyond traffic and design, one of the most heated debates around Poths General is how it will be paid for.

During the July 1, 2025 Common Council meeting, the developer signaled that the project would require financial support from the City of Franklin — widely understood to mean Tax Incremental District (TID) financing. Under a TID, future property tax growth from the development is diverted to cover project costs rather than flowing immediately to schools, Milwaukee County, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD), Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), or Franklin’s general budget.

📊 How TID Financing Works in Franklin

Basic TID (Tax Incremental District) flow graphic for Franklin:

• Baseline property taxes continue flowing to the City of Franklin, Franklin Public Schools, Milwaukee County, MMSD, and MATC.

• But the new “increment” from development gets captured in a TID fund.

• That money is then diverted to cover developer/project costs instead of immediately supporting schools and services.

Residents Push Back

Residents are firmly opposed. Many argue that the project should stand on its own merits — without taxpayer subsidy — especially given how much the plan has already shifted away from its original community-focused promises.

“If this project really works, it shouldn’t need public handouts. And if it doesn’t work, why should Franklin taxpayers be on the hook?” one neighbor said.

Lessons from Ballpark Commons (The Rock)

Opposition to public financing for Poth's General is sharpened by Franklin’s experience with Ballpark Commons/The Rock, which received one of the city’s largest-ever TID commitments.

While that project delivered baseball, restaurants, and recreation, it also tied Franklin taxpayers to a long payback horizon. The city continues to work with Ballpark Commons to cover its outstanding yearly obligations and Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs). For critics, this is a cautionary tale: even high-profile projects can leave Franklin on the hook for years of negotiated support.

📊 Franklin Context: TID Financing Then and Now

Franklin Context Graphic TID Financing at Ballpark Commons vs. Poth's General:

• On the left, Ballpark Commons / The Rock: shows that TID dollars were diverted, and the City of Franklin is still paying yearly obligations and PILOTs.

• On the right, Poths General: the developer is asking for similar TID financing, despite downsizing and cutting public amenities.

Poth's vs. Ballpark Commons

• Scale of Subsidy: Ballpark Commons required heavy public backing; Poth's appears to be asking for similar help despite offering fewer community-wide amenities.

• Community Benefit: The Rock drew regional visitors; Poth's General is largely apartments and private commercial space.

• Risk Profile: The Rock’s revenues fluctuate with events; Poth's depends on stable residential occupancy, but Franklin already faces questions about apartment saturation.

• Trust Factor: With Poth's General already downsized and amenities eliminated, residents argue Franklin can’t afford another TID that leaves taxpayers exposed.

What’s at Stake

• Risk to Taxpayers: If Poth's underperforms, TID revenues may not cover obligations, leaving the city responsible.

• Equity Concerns: Small businesses and homeowners don’t get public financing; residents ask why a large private developer should.

• Precedent: Approving another TID sets an expectation that all major redevelopments will seek subsidies.

For many, the financing debate has become a referendum on trust. After two years of shifting plans and downsizing, residents question whether Franklin should commit scarce resources to a project that no longer resembles what was originally promised.

Trust Factor

With Poth's General already downsized and public amenities eliminated, residents argue Franklin can’t afford another TID that leaves taxpayers exposed. The trust gap widened further in August 2025, when Alderman Salous organized a neighborhood meeting for residents to ask questions directly. The developer did not attend, leaving neighbors frustrated and reinforcing concerns that community voices are being sidelined in the process.

Community Response

Residents say the downsizing proves their concerns were valid. “We were told this would be a balanced, neighborhood-style project,” one neighbor said. “Instead, it grew into a parking-lot campus. Now it’s shrinking again, but at the expense of the public amenities we were promised.”

Others worry about traffic. “With four signals crammed within a quarter-mile stretch, 76th Street will grind to a halt,” another resident warned.

What Concerned Residents of Franklin Can Do

For Franklin neighbors uneasy about the Poth's General project, there are still ways to make your voice heard:

1. Attend Common Council Meetings – Final decisions on the project and any TID financing will be made at the Council level. Public comment opportunities are available at these meetings.

2. Submit Written Comments – Residents can submit letters or emails to the City Clerk or their alderman ahead of meetings. These become part of the public record.

3. Hold Officials Accountable – The much-anticipated neighborhood meeting in August 2025, organized by Alderman Salous, took place without the developer present. Many residents felt this was a missed opportunity for transparency. Going forward, they can press city officials to require the developer’s direct participation before any public funding is approved.

4. Track City Agendas – Franklin posts meeting packets and agendas online. Watching for “TID” or “financing support” on upcoming agendas is the best way to know when a vote is approaching.

5. Organize Collectively – Petitions, neighborhood associations, and coordinated testimony often carry more weight than individual voices.

6. Demand Transparency – Residents can call on officials to release details of any TID financing proposals before a vote. Knowing the dollar amounts and obligations up front is essential for accountability.

As Franklin has already learned with Ballpark Commons, development decisions can shape the city’s finances and quality of life for decades. With the Poth's General project still unsettled — and with the developer absent from neighborhood dialogue — residents will need to stay engaged, informed, and vocal if they want their concerns to influence the outcome.

Conclusion

The Poth's General project has moved from ambitious promises → to dense proposals → to downsized revisions. What Franklin ends up with remains uncertain, but the lesson for residents is clear: scrutinize early, demand accountability, and track every revision.

Franklin's REAL News Source.  Exercising our freedom of speech without fear of retribution or retaliation by Franklin's elected officials.  

FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF FRANKLIN

Kathleen Vincent: A Pattern of Misconduct, Dereliction, and Ethical Failures

By Franklin Community News

Milwaukee County Supervisor Kathleen Vincent (District 11 – Greendale, Greenfield, and portions of Milwaukee) has long styled herself as a dedicated public servant. But recent investigations reveal a troubling pattern of dereliction of duty, ethical lapses, and misuse of taxpayer resources that stretch across her multiple public roles — as a Milwaukee County Supervisor, Greendale School Board President, and full-time English teacher in the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD).

Dereliction of Duty: Packers Over Constituents

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Vincent was scheduled to co-host public “In-District Office Hours” with Alderman Peter Burgelis and Supervisor Patti Logsdon at Milwaukee Fire Station 29 from 9:00–11:45 a.m.

The original flyer — posted by Alderman Burgelis — clearly listed Vincent’s name alongside Burgelis and Logsdon. The event was billed as a chance for residents to meet their elected officials, ask questions, and raise community concerns.

But on Friday, August 22, Vincent abruptly canceled her participation. The next day, Burgelis quietly released a revised post and flyer with Vincent’s name removed.

The following day (Saturday), Vincent posted on her personal Facebook page that she was at Lambeau Field attending the Packers’ pre-season game
— confirming critics’ suspicions that she ditched her
public commitment to attend a PRE-SEASON football game.

Residents who expected to see her were left frustrated:

“She made a commitment and then pulled out at the last minute,” one constituent said. “It shows where her priorities really are.” 

“Screenshots provided to Franklin Community News by multiple confidential sources. The screenshots match the style and content of Vincent’s account, and Franklin Community News has no evidence to suggest they are inauthentic.”

Double Dipping: Theft of Time at KUSD

On September 24, 2024, Kevin Mathewson of the Kenosha County Eye published a story based on a Kenosha Unified School District personnel letter accusing Vincent of serious misconduct — including “Theft of Time.”

As a full-time English teacher, Vincent allegedly:

• Took Greendale school board and Milwaukee county calls during class hours.

• Gave students “busy work” so she could attend Milwaukee County Board Zoom meetings.

• Misused taxpayer-funded teaching time for her other elected roles.

Conservative talk show host Mark Belling amplified the scandal on WISN Radio the next day, calling Vincent a “Triple Dipper” for collecting three taxpayer-funded paychecks at once.

Forced Resignation: Greendale School Board

The double dipping scandal had swift consequences. On October 7, 2024, Vincent resigned as President of the Greendale School Board.

While she clung to her seat as a member, many in the community demanded she step down entirely. For parents and residents, her resignation from the presidency was not enough — they argued she had forfeited the public trust entirely.

Misuse of Legislative Aide: Ethics Complaints Filed

In January 2024, an ethics complaint was filed against both Vincent and Supervisor Steve Taylor. In mid-2024, a second complaint followed, alleging fraud and misuse of county resources.

At issue: Vincent and Taylor directed their shared legislative aide to attend four Milwaukee County Circuit Court hearings unrelated to county business, then report back to them.

• The aide’s appearances (June 10, July 7, July 25, and August 6, 2024) cost taxpayers an estimated $141.80.

• This exceeds the $50 threshold for financial misuse under Milwaukee County Ethics Code §9.05(2).

Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson clarified the matter in an August 16, 2024 memo, writing:

“Legislative aides do not accommodate requests to the personal affairs of County Supervisors.”

Questionable Expenses

Records also show Vincent expensed nearly $700 on branded clothing and office gear — including Adidas polos, a Columbia jacket, and headphones — as “office expenditures.” Critics called this an abuse of county funds.

Spotlight Chasing at the Boat Auction

On August 5, 2025, Milwaukee County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman, Chair of the Parks Committee, hosted a press event to announce the winning bidder of the infamous marooned boat Deep Thought. The event was squarely under Wasserman’s committee authority and tied to the Parks Department.

Yet Kathleen Vincent was the only other supervisor to appear — despite having no involvement with the Parks Committee, the marina, or the auction process.

Video footage used by multiple Milwaukee news media show Vincent planted herself front and center behind Wasserman during the announcement, ensuring she was captured in broadcast footage and photographs. Critics also noted that her attire was “less than professional”, diminishing the seriousness of her appearance.

“She wasn’t there because of the issue,” one attendee said. “She was there because she wanted to be on camera.”

The episode reinforced a recurring critique of Vincent: that she prioritizes visibility and self-promotion over substantive engagement with her actual constituents and responsibilities. 

A Consistent Pattern

Taken together, these incidents reveal a troubling consistency:

• Canceling public office hours to attend a football game.

• Being forced to resign as School Board President following a double-dipping scandal.

• Misusing taxpayer time as a teacher.

• Directing county staff to perform personal errands.

• Expensing personal items as “county business.”

• Inserting herself into events unrelated to her role, simply to be seen on camera.

One courthouse insider summed up the problem bluntly:

“How many lies can you tell before you forget the last lie you told?”

Conclusion: Not Fit to Serve

Kathleen Vincent has shown that she is not guided by public service, but by self-promotion and personal benefit. Her actions undermine the trust of Greendale residents, KUSD students, and Milwaukee County taxpayers alike.

It is not enough for her to resign from leadership positions. For the sake of integrity, transparency, and public trust, Vincent should resign entirely from both the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and the Greendale School Board.

Franklin Community News will continue to monitor this story and follow up on additional ethics filings and open records disclosures.

This is for the Greater Good. 

Supervisor Taylor's ROC Foundation: Charity or Charade?

By Franklin Community News – August 22, 2025

🔎 Key Findings at a Glance

• Origins in Politics: Ballpark Commons was built on county parkland sold to ROC Ventures for $1 while
  Steve Taylor was both a Milwaukee County Supervisor and Franklin Alderman. He also voted on the rezoning from landfill/ski hill, parkland, to commercial use. Shortly after, he became Executive Director of ROC Foundation.  There were no public proposals or bids for redeveloping this parkland.

• Appearance of Quid Pro Quo: The timing of Taylor’s appointment as ROC Foundation Executive Director — immediately after shepherding through the land sale and rezoning — raises the appearance that the role was a political “thank you.”  Taylor was beat by Patti Logsdon as County Supervisor and was out of County Government until two years later when there was redistricting and magically a district was carved out just for Taylor, Franklin east of 51st street and all of Oak Creek.

• Missing Federal Filings: No IRS Form 990 filed for 2023 or 2024. Risk of automatic revocation of nonprofit status.

• High Overhead: 2023 state filing shows 82% of expenses went to management, with only 18% to program services.

• Myth of Donations: ROC Foundation does not donate directly to nonprofits or youth camps. Instead, groups must sell Milkmen tickets, run 50/50 raffles, and operate cash games of chance to “earn” funds.

• No Proof of Sports Camp Support: Despite claims, IRS filings show zero direct spending on Milwaukee Milkmen camps or scholarships.

• Questionable Consultant Payments: Nearly $73,000 in 2021–2022 paid to “consultants,” suspected to be Taylor’s own company (Taylor Consulting LLC).

• Failed Fundraisers: The golf outing and jersey auction — the Foundation’s largest events — repeatedly lost money or broke even.

• Political Overlap: Steve Taylor simultaneously served as Milwaukee County Supervisor, Executive Director of ROC Foundation, campaign chair for Franklin Mayor John Nelson, and ex-officio board member of Engage Franklin.

• Pattern of Mismanagement: The Foundation’s structure and activities suggest a vehicle for insiders’ benefit, not a community-serving charity.

Introduction

The ROC Foundation, incorporated in 2019 as the charitable arm of ROC Ventures, promotes itself as a
501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to “providing support and unique experiences for youth, high school, and young adults in sports, recreation, education, employment, and wellness.”

But a review of IRS filings, Wisconsin state reports, and thousands of public records shows an organization plagued by chronic deficits, low program spending, overlapping political roles, questionable consulting payments, and missing IRS returns for 2023 and 2024. Even today, the Foundation is holding its 6th Annual Golf Tournament at Whitnall Park Golf Course — historically its biggest fundraiser, and one that has repeatedly lost money.

Origins in Land Deals and Rezoning

The very foundation of ROC Foundation’s existence is tied to Milwaukee County’s controversial sale of the land where Ballpark Commons now sits.

The property — once a county-owned landfill and ski hill at Crystal Ridge — was sold to ROC Ventures CEO Mike Zimmerman during the period when Steve Taylor simultaneously served as both a Milwaukee County Supervisor and an Alderman on the Franklin Common Council.

Taylor not only had a direct role in the county’s sale of the land but also participated in the rezoning of the property from recreational to commercial use while on the Franklin Council. That rezoning allowed the creation of Ballpark Commons, opening the door for ROC Ventures’ stadium, mixed-use development, and eventual nonprofit arm.

The Appearance of Quid Pro Quo

Soon after the land sale and rezoning approvals were completed, Steve Taylor was appointed as Executive Director of the ROC Foundation, a position paying about $75,000 annually.

While there is no public record proving that Taylor was explicitly promised the job in exchange for his votes, the timing and sequence of events create the appearance of a quid pro quo.

• Before: Taylor, as Supervisor and Alderman, used his official capacity to support the sale and rezoning of county land for ROC Ventures.

• After: Taylor personally benefited from a salaried position with ROC’s newly created nonprofit arm.

This progression raises a fundamental question: Was Taylor’s hiring as ROC Foundation Executive Director effectively a political “thank you” from Mike Zimmerman and ROC Ventures?

Even if no formal agreement existed, the optics strongly suggest that Taylor leveraged public office for private benefit — an arrangement that erodes public trust and underscores ongoing concerns about conflicts of interest in Franklin’s government.

📌 Conflict Timeline: ROC Foundation & Steve Taylor

• 🟫 Land (pre-2018 landfill/ski hill)

• 🟢 Sale (2018 land sale to Zimmerman)

• 🟧 Rezoning (2018–2019 approvals)

• 🔵 Foundation (2019 incorporation)

• 🟣 Job (Late 2019 Taylor hired as Executive Director)

• 🔴 Deficit (2020–2022 losses, consultant fees)

• ⚫ Compliance (2023–2024 missing IRS filings)

The Numbers Don’t Lie

IRS Filings (2020–2022)

• 2020: Revenue $73,303; program spending $2,835 (3.8%). Ended with deficit –$3,679.

• 2021: Revenue $138,683; program spending $33,537 (24.1%). Paid $40,022 to “consultants.” Ended with deficit –$23,139.

• 2022: Revenue $146,733; program spending $38,006 (25.9%). Paid $32,786 to “consultants.” Ended with deficit –$24,664.

During these years, Executive Director Steve Taylor collected about $75,000 annually in salary and benefits, while the Foundation spent more on management and contractors than on programs.

Wisconsin Filing (2023)

With no IRS returns filed for 2023 or 2024, the only available financials come from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI).

• Revenue: $189,402

  • Contributions: $139,015

  • Other Revenue: $50,387

• Expenses: $128,508

  • Management: $105,218 (82%)

  • Program Services: $23,290 (18%)

  • Fundraising: $0

• Net Worth: Improved from –$24,664 (2022) to +$36,230

Charity Ratios (2023, WI DFI):

• Program Services / Total Expenses = 18.12%

• Program Services / Total Revenue = 12.30%

• Fundraising / Contributions = 0%

By watchdog standards, a healthy nonprofit should devote 65%+ of its spending to program services. ROC Foundation spent less than 20%.

The Myth of “Donations”

Although the Foundation’s filings refer to “grants,” ROC Foundation does not donate money to nonprofits in the traditional sense. Instead, it requires other nonprofits to “earn” support through labor at ROC Ventures events:

• Selling Milwaukee Milkmen tickets

• Running 50/50 raffles

• Operating cash games of chance

• Staffing concessions or carnival-style activities at games

IRS filings confirm this arrangement. The “grants” line item actually describes these activities:

“ROC Foundation allows other non-profits to participate in Milwaukee Wave and Milwaukee Milkmen in-game fundraising events… games, raffles, PR, etc.”

This means that ROC Foundation’s “program service grants” — reported as $38,006 in 2022 — were not charitable distributions at all, but pass-through earnings from ticket sales and raffles.

The Myth of Sports Camp Support

Promotional materials for the Foundation and its golf tournaments frequently state that proceeds benefit Milwaukee Milkmen Camps and tickets for disadvantaged children.

Yet the IRS filings for 2020, 2021, and 2022 show:

• No line items for camp scholarships, programming, or operational support.

• No reported expenses tied to sports camps.

• The only “program service” activity listed was allowing nonprofits to raise funds through in-game raffles and ticket sales.

If tickets were ever “comped” for children, they were not recorded as ROC Foundation expenses — suggesting that ROC Ventures, not the Foundation, absorbed those costs as a business promotion.

In short, there is no documentary proof that the ROC Foundation has ever directly donated money to youth sports camps.

Consultant Payments: Double Compensation?

In both 2021 and 2022, ROC Foundation reported nearly $73,000 in “professional fees and independent contractors.”

Investigative sources suspect these payments went to Taylor Consulting LLC, Steve Taylor’s private company. If true, Taylor effectively paid himself twice:

1. Salary & Benefits as Executive Director

   • 2021: $74,648

   • 2022: $75,047

2. Consulting Fees via Taylor Consulting LLC

   • $40,022 (2021)

   • $32,786 (2022)

This would constitute self-dealing and private inurement, violations of IRS nonprofit law that could trigger excise taxes or revocation of exempt status.

Political Overlap and Conflicts of Interest

Foundation’s issues are not limited to finances. Open records show Taylor frequently used his Foundation email for:

• ROC Ventures operations and government lobbying

• Franklin development issues tied to Ballpark Commons

• Campaign activities, including serving as campaign chair for Franklin Mayor John Nelson

Taylor also served as an ex-officio board member of Engage Franklin, another nonprofit tied to ROC Ventures CEO Mike Zimmerman. Like ROC Foundation, Engage Franklin has not filed IRS tax returns for 2023 or 2024.

This creates a web of overlapping roles:

• Milwaukee County Supervisor (public office)

• Executive Director, ROC Foundation (salary)

• Taylor Consulting LLC (private business)

• Ex-officio board member, Engage Franklin (Zimmerman-connected nonprofit)

• Campaign chair for Franklin Mayor John Nelson

Such overlaps suggest that ROC Foundation and Engage Franklin function less as independent charities and more as political and business vehicles for ROC Ventures.

Filing Gaps: 2023 and 2024

• IRS filings stop in 2022. No 990 or 990-EZ has been filed for 2023 or 2024.

• Wisconsin DFI filing exists for 2023, but not yet for 2024.

• Federal law: Missing three consecutive IRS filings leads to automatic revocation of tax-exempt status.

By filing at the state level while skipping the IRS, the Foundation appears to maintain a façade of compliance without full transparency.

Since publishing our investigation, several readers have asked why the ROC Foundation and Engage Franklin have not filed IRS tax returns since 2022. It is important to note that nonprofits are still legally required to file their annual Form 990s, even if under review. In some cases, filings can be delayed or withheld from the public IRS database if there is an active audit or enforcement action. Given that a formal IRS complaint was filed against both organizations three years ago, one possible explanation is that the IRS or state authorities have flagged them for investigation. Another possibility is simple noncompliance — either way, the absence of filings raises red flags about accountability and transparency. A Pattern of Mismanagement.

1. Fundraisers That Lose Money

   

   • Golf Outing: Net loss of –$1 despite grossing $45,376.

   • 2022 Jersey Auction: Net $0, with more than $59,000 in gross receipts wiped out by expenses.

   • Total 2022 fundraising: –$4,007.

   • 2023 filings (with the IRS missing) show no evidence of improvement.

   • 
     2025 Golf Outing (today, August 22, 2025): The 6th Annual Tournament at
     Whitnall Park Golf Course features just one major sponsor (Boldt), one secondary sponsor (D1), and only nine registered teams of four golfers. With such low turnout and past failures, the event is unlikely to generate net revenue—continuing the Foundation’s streak of losing money on its biggest fundraiser.

2. High Administrative Costs

   • 2023: 82% of all expenses went to “management.”

   • Program services consistently below 25%.

3. Consultant Payments

   • Nearly $73,000 across 2021–2022 for “independent contractors.”

   • Alleged to have been routed to Taylor’s own LLC.

4. Interlocking Nonprofits

   • Taylor connected to both ROC Foundation and Engage Franklin.

   • Neither has filed with the IRS for 2023 or 2024.

5. No Evidence of Sports Camp Support

   • Despite repeated claims, filings show no direct donations to Milkmen camps or youth programs.

   • “Program services” are limited to raffle and ticket sales opportunities.

6. County Budget Hypocrisy

   • While the ROC Foundation runs chronic deficits, Steve Taylor now serves as co-chair of the Milwaukee County Board Finance Committee, loudly warning that the County faces a severe budget shortfall and exploring controversial options such as leasing parkland to private operators.

   • This posture is deeply ironic given Taylor’s own history: the very land at Crystal Ridge (now Ballpark Commons) was sold to his friend Mike Zimmerman for just $1 while Taylor was a County Supervisor and Franklin Alderman. That land deal not only deprived the County of fair market value, but also positioned ROC Ventures to create the very nonprofit that now employs Taylor.

Conclusion

The ROC Foundation brands itself as “Return on Community.” But its financials and operations reveal:

• Years of deficits and failed fundraisers

• Charitable “donations” that are really commissions for selling tickets and raffles

• Over 80% of spending consumed by management, not programs

• Consultant payments that may have enriched its Executive Director twice

• Overlapping roles linking charity, politics, and private business

• Missing IRS filings for two consecutive years

• And no evidence of actual sports camp donations

At the same time, Steve Taylor sits as co-chair of the Milwaukee County Board Finance Committee, warning that the County faces budget collapse and pushing ideas like leasing out public parkland, privatizing swimming pools, and closing senior centers to cover deficits. The irony is stark: the very land at Crystal Ridge, once a county park and ski hill, was sold to Taylor’s ally Mike Zimmerman for just $1 when Taylor held dual roles as County Supervisor and Franklin Alderman. That deal set the stage for Ballpark Commons, ROC Ventures, and ultimately the ROC Foundation — the nonprofit that now pays Taylor a full-time salary despite its chronic financial mismanagement.

Taken together, the ROC Foundation and Engage Franklin look less like community charities and more like nonprofit shells benefiting insiders at public expense.

What Residents Can Do

The ROC Foundation thrives on the perception of community support, yet its filings and activities raise more questions than answers. Franklin residents and donors deserve transparency about where their money goes.

• Ask for records: Request copies of IRS Form 990s and Wisconsin DFI filings.

• Demand disclosure: Call on ROC Foundation to publicly identify who received the $73,000 in “consultant” payments.

• Hold leaders accountable: Expect elected officials tied to ROC Foundation and Engage Franklin to explain their roles and conflicts.

• Support real nonprofits: Direct your donations to organizations with proven track records of serving youth and families.

Oak Creek and Franklin's future should be shaped by authentic community investment, not shell charities or political insiders. It is up to residents to demand that the phrase “Return on Community” means what it says.

It’s for the Greater Good.