Hey, readers! Summer is getting the better of me, and I’ve been delinquent in my blog posts, but, I’m baaaaack!
If you are looking for something really unique and fun to do this week, visit downtown Oconomowoc, Thursday August 12. Yes, that’s tomorrow night! Starting at 6pm, you will be greeted with food and retail therapy. Then, as soon as dusk hits, grab your camp chair, and claim your favorite spot in the street, yes, IN THE STREET! Get ready to see downtown Oconomowoc transform from a bustling commercial zone, into “Hogwarts,” as you are treated to a 40 foot outdoor screening of Harry Potter. If you were around last summer, you may remember the showing of The Wizard of Oz. This will be just as much fun, so don’t miss out!
For more info, be a friend of Moonlit Movies on Facebook.
Then, drop in on Sunday evening at the City Beach, on Lac LaBelle, to watch a “Venetian Boat Parade,” followed by fireworks, over LaBelle. This kicks of the annual Festival of the Arts in Oconomowoc. Juried artists from all over the country, come to display their wares in Fowler Park. There are activities, food vendors and entertainment all week long. For more information on this event, visit their webpage.
June 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
When you are selling your home one of the requirements in the Offer to Purchase is that the Seller pays for the Title Insurance Policy. When the Offer to Purchase forms were changed early this spring, one of the provisions in the new contract was an option for the Seller to pay for a GAP endorsement to the title insurance policy. The option is almost always included in the offer to purchase based offer language. I won’t digress on that for now. Soon after the offer to purchase is accepted by both parties it now becomes a “Contract of Sale” and the listing agent usually orders a title insurance update. The title company will search for any liens or encumbrances against the property that is being sold and will issue, shortly after the offer is accepted a “Title Insurance Commitment” This is not the actual policy. The formal policy is issued about 2 weeks after the closing and is sent to the new homeowner. This time period between the issuance of the title commitment and the title policy is called a GAP. In this gap in coverage a seller technically could purchase a boat or car, use the house as collateral all un-noticed by the title company or the buyer. The Gap endorsement is signed by the Seller, under oath, which states that the seller will be responsible for this activity during this gap in actual coverage. I know you would never do something like this, but that is why we have a request for GAP endorsements with offers now. Someone abused the system.
June 18, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
The Town of Summit and City of Oconomowoc’s new firehouse has a new address—just off the Oconomowoc Parkway and Hwy 67. The state of the art facility will be a welcome addition to the city and town. The current fire station on S. Concord Road will continue to operate and serve the south side of the city, but with this new structure train traffic will not impede service to part of the city of Oconomowoc. The bike path runs right past the firehouse so if you are out with the kids on your bike you can’t miss this impressive building. If you begin your journey by the Imagination Station in Oconomowoc and head south and east the trip to the firehouse is only about 5-6 miles. We have so many great resources here in Oconomowoc to take advantage of. If you have not been on the bike path try it out—It’s FREE!!
June 17, 2010 at 12:00 AM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
It is always great to see builders busy these days with the ‘new’ real estate market. In the Brightwater subdivision, just across the street from the new Aurora Hospital, Kingsway Homes is busy building a new home. I have the house on Waterstone Circle listed for sale at $475,000 and this gorgeous subdivision has all the accoutrements of fine living. Let’s start with the clubhouse. A well appointed clubhouse with outdoor pool, bathrooms and a large gathering area is available for use by residents.
What I like most about this fabulous neighborhood structure is one, the design is beautiful and two the quality inside is high end. The quaint older manor home, which I have listed for sale, is a terrific deal in the upscale development and has a detached carriage house complete with studio apartment, fireplace and full kitchen. The main house offers a Viking kitchen, granite counter tops, slate floors, Jack ‘n Jill bedrooms upstairs and 3 natural fireplaces in the main house. This unique property has the largest lot in the development at 2.5 acres. We are looking for someone who recognizes value when they see it and wants amenities such as the clubhouse and lake access.
April 26, 2010 at 03:52 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
On Tuesday April 20 th I sat down with then Mayor, Maury Sullivan and asked him to reflect on his past six years as the Mayor of Oconomowoc. The Mayor reflected on a number of his accomplishments, most notably he feels he is leaving the office with a city that is in good shape from a fiscal perspective and from a staffing function. According to the Mayor, when he first took office the city was spending $100,000-$135,000 on street repairs. This past year the city allocated over $3M for street repairs.
When asked what stands out most to the Mayor as an accomplishment he listed the road upgrades while conceding that there is much work to be done there. The new growth in development within the city which he quotes from State reports that the city has benefited from $559 million in new construction within the city over the past six years. Other projects have been stalled due to financing, most notably the Rockwell project in the downtown area and the Pabst Farms development. City finances are the Mayor’s third area of accomplishment. “During this last six years there has been a relatively low increase in levy, this last year there was no increase. The levy for the city is the fifth lowest of 190 cities in Wisconsin.” said Mayor Sullivan.
Prior to his election as the Mayor of Oconomowoc, Sullivan was the Town Chairman for the Town of Summit, soon to be the Village of Summit. During those litigious years the City and Town were at odds over a border agreement. This past December roughly 4500 acres merged into the city as part of the 10 year border agreement between the two municipalities. Over 32 lawsuits were filed as a result of the announcement of the Target Distribution Center. “I felt that quite frankly this was foolishness and I advocated with the Town Board to negotiate and they had tried litigating, but that had mixed limited success and started negotiating with the boundary agreement in 1999.” We no longer have litigation…I wasn’t thinking of this as an accomplishment while I was Mayor. Clearly Sullivan’s involvement as Town Chairman and his 3 term tenure as Mayor of Oconomowoc has had an impact on the relations between Summit and Oconomowoc.
When I asked the Mayor to look forward as he leaves office, he sees that most of the issues that the city will face are issues related to development, growth in the city and the hot topic of impact fees. When I asked Sullivan about the impact fees, he stated, “I think they will not be changed, because the impact of having residents pay for development impact fees would be so substantial that I don’t think that the taxpayers would agree to that.” The bigger issues facing Oconomowoc are the downtown areas and the Pabst Farms Development. A good deal of concern about the future of the Pabst development is still on many minds in the community while DDR continues to bring forth plans for the new mall, most have realized that the plans once promised to the city with high end retailers such as Nordstroms will not materialize.
The biggest hurdle for the new mayor is a balancing what Pabst would like to develop with the public’s perception of what they were promised. The demographics don’t tend to support the higher end retailers for our area and of course the recession has not helped the plans for the new mall. Optimistic and upbeat about the future of the city the former mayor has no plans to drift into the sunset. Sullivan would not rule out a run for this office or any other office at the moment. For now he plans on enjoying time off with his wife Ann in our great city.
April 12, 2010 at 08:49 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
On Tuesday April 6th the votes in the City of Oconomowoc decided it was time for a change at the top. 3 term incumbent Maury Sullivan was replaced by Jim Daley. Recently Jim spoke with me about his vision for the City of Oconomowoc. The turnout for the election was higher than other “off year” elections with 27% of the residents casting their votes.
Q: Were you surprised by the turnout this past Tuesday?
Mayor-Elect Daley: You know our campaign thought we had a very strong message. The need to focus on our downtown and allow responsible development and responsible growth in our community –these are issues that are important to Oconomowoc. We were very optimistic going into the election but the turnout and the margin of victory were at levels that exceeded our expectations. I think it shows how strong the message was.
Q: What is your first priority when you take office?
A: Mayor-Elect Daley: The first priority is to stop the bleeding from the commercial and retail level from the downtown. Both the downtown areas and the Pabst Farm Development need the community’s attention to move forward and build support. We need to be business friendly but also protect the community’s interests at the same time. The downtown revitalization has to be the #1 priority and I think to do that what we need to do initially is to work on fees, the bureaucracy and the red tape that makes it less desirable for business to come to Oconomowoc. I want our city hall message or mantra to be Oconomowoc is open for business. We are here, we are aggressive and we want investment dollars and businesses in our community to serve our citizens. With the economy being how it is, all communities are in an extremely competitive status of trying to draw quality business into their environments and Oconomowoc right now is making itself very uncompetitive. The proof of that is there for anyone to see if you drive in downtown.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Fowler Lake Revitalization Project?
A: Mayor-Elect Daley: From my understanding of the project, it was the result of a lot of compromise from a lot of different parties and I want to dig deeper into this to make sure that it’s not the “left-overs” of compromise. I don’t question that the Fowler Lake waterfront needs to be addressed. My concern for a project this big is that it has to be done right and I don’t think this can be a fast track item. This is the kind of project when we are talking about pristine lake frontage we should really be looking at this long term in a forward planning manner. I don’t want to address Fowler Lake for what is good for tomorrow, rather what’s good for the next generations. It is an immensely expensive project which I think its time has come but it needs to be done right. I think there are some issues with the current proposal that need to be refined before we move forward
Q: The high speed rail stop in Oconomowoc has garnered much attention. Rep Joel Kleefisch recently introduced legislation regarding the high speed rail. What are your thoughts on this issue?
A: Mayor-Elect Daley: First of all I don’t think the high speed rail is an affordability issue as much as it is a priority issue–should we be spending our money on this as a community? Every dollar we spend supporting one project is a dollar that we are taking away from supporting another one, unless we are interested in doing things like raising taxes, which I am opposed to. When we look at the high speed rail, The Kleefisch bill is a very legitimate bill. I don’t think his intention is to straight up kill it (high speed rail). What Kleefisch is saying in his legislation is that we have a lot of questions that we would like answered before we can support this as a state. I think he is right in that. What I said in the campaign is that this is an issue of ridership, and my understanding is that there is not a dependable study that has been done to date that is going to show what the ridership is going to be plus I think there are a lot of issues that could potentially decrease the ridership. The number one issue is where the Madison terminal is located. My understanding is that right now it is slated for the Dane county airport and I think out of the people that I have spoken to there is absolutely zero interest in traveling to the Dane County Airport. Now if that was a downtown Madison or accessible downtown stop I think that would increase the likelihood of people in our community willing to jump on the train, go to Madison for, say a Badger game or walk down State Street. When we are looking at the Dane county airport stop that strands the rider from the rest of the Madison community and the rider has to either grab a cab or a bus– it is just those additional layers of inconvenience that will affect ridership in an extremely negative manner.
Mayor Elect Daley will be sworn into office at the April 20th Common Council meeting at 7:30pm located in the City Hall.
March 26, 2010 at 08:40 PM · Posted under Karen Trepton
Oconomowoc continues it’s strong tradition of excellence in the arts, by forming a new community orchestra. Orchestra “O” is a community based symphonic orchestra, open to players from the surrounding area. They also have a smaller Chamber group, Oconomowoc Chamber Orchestra, that will be comprised of professional, semi-professional and juried players.
Roberta Carpenter, a local string instructor, and accomplished professional conductor, leads the effort to bring this wonderful opportunity to the stage of the Oconomowoc Arts Center.
In an effort to springboard their summer concert, Noodles and Company in Delafield, has paired with them to share proceeds from their sales on March 29th, from 3-9pm.
So, get ready for some good food and some great music!
January 29, 2010 at 09:42 PM · Posted under Karen Trepton
High speed rail could connect Milwaukee to Madison with stops in Brookfield, Oconomowoc and Watertown as early as 2013 due to a federal grant that was awarded this week. The much debated project, would utilize $810 million dollars in federal grant money. Proponents cite job creation, as well as convenience for Wisconsin residents. Opposition is leery of cost. Completion is still subject to legislative approval. To read more, click here.
The Oconomowoc City Beach ice rink is up and running! For a fun afternoon, come over for some skating on Lac Labelle. Finish the event with dinner at one of the local restaurants. Winter fun!
January 05, 2010 at 10:19 PM · Posted under Karen Trepton
Youth Basketball is in full swing in Southeastern Wisconsin. This Saturday, January 9th, Oconomowoc hosts the OYB Cooney Classic Tournament. There will be 40 teams participating and 60 games being played throughout the day. Teams participating are coming from all over Southeast Wisconsin. All games will be played at the Oconomowoc High School Field House, located at the south end of the building. Admission is $2 for adults, students and seniors. Children under 5 are free. Half of all the admission fees collected will benefit “Coaches vs. Cancer,” in addition to all of the proceeds from additional donations to this cause.
Teams playing are from Oconomowoc, Wisco, Brookfield East and Central, Watertown, Waukesha West, Cedarburg, Arrowhead, Pewaukee, Mukwonago Gold and Waukesha North.
If you love basketball, and would like to see the “up and coming youth talent” in our area, visit the OHS field house and watch some great youth basketball! Games start at 8am and will run through the late afternoon.
December 30, 2009 at 02:44 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Robert Shiller, of the Case Shiller Index is interviewed in this video by the WSJ. The outlook is not that great, but there is good news. First our area has not been affected as severely as other parts of the country. We see that the first quarter of 2010 and perhaps into the second quarter the activity will be stronger than 2009. The threat of rising interest rates should be of concern to sellers and buyers. So while the saying sounds overused, NOW is the time to sell for two main reasons. First as a seller you can take advantage of the opportunity while the homebuyer tax credit is still available. Buyers must be under contract by April 30, 2010. The second reason is that most economists believe that interest rates will have to rise in 2010. If rates go up from 5% to 6% this decreases the buyer’s top price by 10% if the buyer is payment sensitive—which almost all are today. If you would like more information about our local real estate economy or the value of your home feel free to call me.
December 10, 2009 at 04:36 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
This incredible home is situated on a almost 1 acre city lot that is adjacent to a beautiful park. There are 4 large bedrooms on the second floor with an optional 5th bedroom in the finished lower level, handsome family room with bookcases that flank the bricked fireplace. A large kitchen with sunny southern-facing dinette also features an island and plenty of counter space. A 3.5 car garage is ideal for extra storage. Priced at $274,500 1391 Forest View Lane is the perfect home for a buyer looking for extreme value.
December 03, 2009 at 12:19 AM · Posted under Karen Trepton
If you want an early dose of holiday cheer, check out downtown Oconomowoc, this Saturday, December 5th, for the annual Christmas Parade.
The parade runs from 3 - 4pm, and follows a route from Fowler Park, south to downtown, through the round-about westward on Wisconsin Avenue, and then south on Main Street to Roosevelt Park.
The best place to see the parade is downtown or from various local businesses and churches, such as the steps of Dr. Martin Luther Church, on Main Street. They always welcome parade watchers, and sometimes offer hot chocolate and snacks.
In addition to various local groups, you will see some of our very own Shorewest Lake Country Team, following a very special “float”, and of course, Santa!
For more Oconomowoc events visit this calendar link from the Chamber of Commerce.
December 02, 2009 at 09:50 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
There is a buzz in the air with the two new hospitals in Oconomowoc. The soon-to-open Aurora Hospital (pictured above), located just south of I-94 on Hwy 67, (click here to view a map) and Pro Health’s state of the art facility on Summit Avenue (pictured on right), near the heart of Oconomowoc are both imposing sites. Beyond all the press releases the best way to find out when the hospital opens is the people that work there. I found this blog from nurses that discuss the opening and it looks like March 1, 2010 is the date to watch for Aurora. Pro Health, Oconomowoc’s first hospital is also looking for talented health care professionals and is holding a grand opening on Dec. 12th. There has been much talk about hospital wars with the two competing facilities, but I like to look at it this way. Oconomowoc is in the midst of two distinct entities that are eager to provide the best health care possible. Both hospitals are looking for good qualified people too. This is all good for the surrounding business and the housing economy in Oconomowoc. From the downtown merchants to the shops at Pabst Farms more interest in our great city is very positive.
December 01, 2009 at 08:55 PM · Posted under Glenn Hanon
Maury Sullivan (pictured on left), Oconomowoc mayor announced that he is seeking re-election this coming April. The primary will be held this February 17th 2010. The mayor hopes to finish several initiatives that have started on his watch. The revitalization of the waterfront near city hall is just one of the projects that can change downtown Oconomowoc for the better. Currently discussions are still underway as to where the new train station will be located in the city for high speed rail. Additionally, Mayor Sullivan would like to see improvements with our city roads—and I couldn’t agree with him more on that. Much has been done lately especially with the reworking of the downtown area. Next year we should see the road project finished from the four corners west to the county line. In 1999 the Town of Summit and the City of Oconomowoc finalized their Border Agreement and as of December 31, 2009 several parcels that were in the Town of Summit will now be a part of the city. Several residences are involved in the assimilation to the city and when calculating taxes for the sake of a real estate transaction, it would be best to have those proration amounts agreed to in writing. Oconomowoc is ready for smart growth and with some of these projects we look forward to a bright future.
Karen Trepton
Glenn Hanon
It is always great to see builders busy these days with the ‘new’ real estate market. In the 
On Tuesday April 20 th I sat down with then Mayor, Maury Sullivan and asked him to reflect on his past six years as the Mayor of Oconomowoc. The Mayor reflected on a number of his accomplishments, most notably he feels he is leaving the office with a city that is in good shape from a fiscal perspective and from a staffing function. According to the Mayor, when he first took office the city was spending $100,000-$135,000 on street repairs. This past year the city allocated over $3M for street repairs.
Q: Were you surprised by the turnout this past Tuesday? 
it’s not the “left-overs” of compromise. I don’t question that the Fowler Lake waterfront needs to be addressed. My concern for a project this big is that it has to be done right and I don’t think this can be a fast track item. This is the kind of project when we are talking about pristine lake frontage we should really be looking at this long term in a forward planning manner. I don’t want to address Fowler Lake for what is good for tomorrow, rather what’s good for the next generations. It is an immensely expensive project which I think its time has come but it needs to be done right. I think there are some issues with the current proposal that need to be refined before we move forward
south to downtown, through the round-about westward on Wisconsin Avenue, and then south on Main Street to Roosevelt Park.
state of the art facility on Summit Avenue (pictured on right), near the heart of Oconomowoc are both imposing sites. Beyond all the press releases the best way to find out when the hospital opens is the people that work there. I found this blog 
Maury Sullivan (pictured on left), Oconomowoc mayor announced that he is seeking re-election this coming April. The 
In 1999 the Town of Summit and the City of Oconomowoc finalized their 
