Art museum, war memorial could have oversight agreement

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The Milwaukee Art Museum and Milwaukee County War Memorial Center may have settled their months-long dispute over who should control space they share on Milwaukee’s lakefront.

The two groups have been negotiating since May over control of building operations and maintenance. The war memorial has traditionally had that control, but the art museum said it needs oversight in order to protect its artwork.

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske stepped in to mediate the dispute in February. Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Marina Dimitrijevic and Gerry Broderick tasked Geske with brokering an agreement by Feb. 19, according to a letter attributed to both. The letter also tasks the war memorial and art museum with bringing that agreement in writing to the board’s March 12 Parks, Energy and Environment Committee meeting.

The groups missed the February deadline, but Broderick confirmed Tuesday that a tentative agreement will be presented March 12. He said he didn’t know any specific details about the agreement.

“I’m a little cautious about it,” he said, “but they did ask for it to be on the agenda.”

David Kurtz, lead negotiator for the war memorial, and Kristin Settle, spokeswoman for the art museum, both declined to comment on the tentative agreement. Geske did not immediately return requests for comment.

— Beth Kevit