Open Carry Armed Men Doing Street Repairs Near Phillis Wheatley Public School Work For American Sewer Services

Armed men with handguns doing concrete street repairs near a public school work for American Sewer Services, Inc., according to Poblocki Paving Corporation.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

December 4, 2017

Milwaukee, WI - On Monday, the Poblocki Paving Corporation confirmed that the three men shown doing some concrete street repair in a undated photo that was posted on Facebook while armed with handguns including one who had his handgun drawn actually work for American Sewer Services, Inc. and not for Poblocki. One of the men in the photo is wearing a Poblocki Paving vest.

American Sewer Services, Inc. (ASS), N2768 County Road P in Rubicon, Wisconsin is owned by Dennis Biondich. The company makes more than $3M a year and has about 20 employees. ASS was contracted by the City of Milwaukee to do some sewer repair near the Phillis Wheatley Public School at N. 19th Street and W. Meinecke Ave. when employees were spotted with open carry handguns including one of them who had his handgun drawn. 

The City of Milwaukee Firearms and Dangerous Weapons policy prohibits general workers and contractors from wearing or having weapons at a worksite while doing work for the City regardless, if a worker has a valid conceal carry permit. The workers were within the 1,000 feet from a public school, which is prohibited, especially when a handgun is drawn without justification.

Wisconsin State Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milw.) released the following statement in her Facebook account, "I confirmed 4 things about the law today.

1) If they were Open carrying - they can’t be w/in school zone and it is a violation of the law BUT is NOT a crime to violate the law it is ONLY a forfeiture up to $1,000.

2) If they had a CCW permit then they CAN be in school zone;

3) Regardless it is  still in violation of the city’s policy and can be grounds to terminate the contract if the city pursues it.

4) The contractor could request an opportunity to cure the contract depending on what the contract says.

To cure they could honor the request by letting the workers not work on any city contracts.

Three Members of the Milwaukee Common Council became outraged and released statements about the Facebook photo showing an employee of a subcontractor hired by a company (American Sewer Services. Inc.) working for the Department of Public Works openly brandishing a handgun next to two coworkers open carrying holstered handguns, at a worksite near N. 19th and W. Meinecke Streets.

Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, in whose 15th District the photo was taken, said he is shocked and angered by the image. “Behavior as dangerous and disrespectful as this is appalling and has no place in any neighborhood and by any city contractor, subcontractor or representative,” he said.
“If this is a real, untouched photo I would like this individual and that crew removed immediately from the site and barred from any future city projects,” said Alderman Stamper, chair of the Common Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee.
“I will be working with my colleagues on possible legislative measures to make sure this type of behavior will not happen again on any future city projects,” Alderman Stamper said.
Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton said he has been told the owner of the contracting company has been summoned to meet tomorrow (Tuesday, December 5) with DPW Commissioner Ghassan Korban. “I will be immediately following up with Commissioner Korban to see what was discussed and to determine future worksite requirements and supervision with this contractor,” he said.
Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, chair of the Finance and Personnel Committee, said the photo reflects poorly on the subcontractor and is now being shared widely on social media.

“The behavior exposed in this photo is something we do not tolerate or dismiss or condone in any way with individuals who work with or for the city,” she said.

“I and other members of the Council appreciate it when the public steps up and shares information about city projects and city work in general that we may not be aware of,” Alderwoman Coggs said.
“This is a prime example of public input and information-sharing that can help us do our work more effectively and that could actually lead to important changes in city policy,” she said.

Update: One of the American Sewer Services, Inc. workers who had his weapon in his hand in a photo has been fired and two other workers who had open carry handguns while concrete paving a City of Milwaukee street are facing discipline.