Art Museum, War Memorial Groups Claim Success in Negotiations
Board-Appointed Mediator Advances Recommendations to Committee of Milwaukee County Board
Milwaukee – Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic and Supervisor Gerry Broderick, Chair of Parks, Energy and Environment Committee of the Milwaukee County Board, are pleased to announce that groups negotiating on behalf of the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM) and the Milwaukee County War Memorial (WMC) have reached a consensus.
The Milwaukee County Board requested that negotiations begin after the Milwaukee Art Museum agreed to pay 60 percent of a $25 million plan for renovation and improvements and committed to the full management of the structure. Milwaukee County has agreed to pay $10 million toward the project.
“Acting in the best interest of Milwaukee County stakeholders, the Board stepped in to resolve the impasse in negotiations between the Art Museum and War Memorial Center by appointing Justice Janine Geske as mediator,” said Chairwoman Marina Dimitrijevic. “We are grateful to Justice Geske and to the negotiating teams for their extraordinary and efficient work.”
It took only about one month’s time for the Milwaukee Art Museum and veterans’ communities to reach agreement under the able guidance of Justice Geske, with support from Marquette University Law School Professor Andrea Schneider.
“These mediation efforts by the former interim Milwaukee County Executive are a benefit to the community at large, as they preserve our beloved cultural institutions and value the voice of veterans,” said Supervisor Broderick. “We thank everyone for coming to the table.”
The deal must be approved by the boards of the Museum and War Memorial as well as the County Board and County Executive Chris Abele
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.