News & Notes: Dec. 27

Franklin considering Gordon Food Service store

Franklin - A 6,000-square-foot Gordon Food Service Marketplace Store is planned at 6919 S. 27th St.

The Franklin Plan Commission gave preliminary approval to the $1.6 million project, Planning Manager Joel Dietl said. The Common Council will need to approve the Michigan-based chain's plan and likely will vote on it Jan. 10, he said.

The store caters primarily to restaurants and other institutions and to a lesser extent consumers.

Dietl said the Franklin store would be the chain's third in Wisconsin. Presently, there's a Gordon Food Service Marketplace Store in West Milwaukee and Racine.

The single-story store would be on the southern half of the 3-acre vacant site; the other half of the site would be developed but no project or timetable has been established.

If approvals are granted, Dietl said, construction will begin this spring and the store could open in fall.

Aldermanic races heat up; all incumbents challenged

Oak Creek - Alderman Stephen Scaffidi already has turned in the 200 signatures required to officially run for mayor this spring.

Candidates have until 5 p.m. Jan. 3 to turn in signatures with nomination papers to the city clerk's office.

Oak Creek-Franklin School Board member Mark Verhalen and District 6 Alderman Thomas Michalski also expressed interest in running for mayor but have not yet turned in their papers.

A fourth candidate who took out papers, DeAnn Mercado, told NOW that she has decided not to run.

Meanwhile, all aldermen whose positions are up for election this April face opposition. Michalski, who indicated he would give up his aldermanic seat if elected mayor, is being opposed by Christopher Guzikowski. District 2 Alderman Daniel Bukiewicz is being challenged by newcomer Zachary Johnson, and District 4 Alderman Michael Toman is being opposed by Rosemarie Annonson, who challenged the incumbent in the previous election.

The general election will be April 3; if a primary is needed, it will be held Feb. 21.