A leaner fire department could save Milwaukee millions a year, says a new consultant's report. But to do that city officials will have to lock horns with the firefighters' union, something they have been loath to do. A performance audit by Matrix Consulting Group recommends the city reduce the number of firefighters on ladder trucks from five to four, which would save $3.2 million a year.

That idea, however, has come up every year since the late 1990s during budget time and firefighters have effectively shot it down. It will be interesting to see if aldermen use the report as extra ammo to make the change next year. Matrix says a reconfigured department would actually have more firefighters arriving at a scene within 8 minutes than there are now.

Matrix also suggested dumping two deputy chiefs to save $225,000 and hiring more lieutenants and heavy equipment operators to reduce overtime in order to save $562,000 a year. Aldermen were scheduled to ponder the report this week. Matrix is the same consultant that recommended the Milwaukee Police Department rely more on civilian desk jockeys in order to get more cops on the street.

Impeachment Rally Draws a Crowd: About 300 people attended a little publicized town hall meeting on impeaching President Bush last week in the City Hall rotunda. It was more an effort to point out Bush's alleged crimes against the Constitution than a march or demonstration. But getting 300 people to show up for a political event in this town is no easy feat.

Marquette University theology professor Dan Maguire gave a damning speech that took Republicans and Democrats to task, noting 15 "ugly facts that reek to the high heavens" of high crimes and misdemeanors that he lays on Bush's desk.

"Your inaction in the face of all that I have mentioned is not just bad," he said. "It is Godamnably bad and we in this assembly condemn you for it."

Talking Head Goes to City Hall: It was celebrity hour at the Common Council's Licenses Committee last week when Courtny Gerrish showed up to oppose the settlement of a new bar near her riverfront condo. No, it wasn't because the place was dirty -- that's her restaurant shtick on TMJ4 -- it was, she said, because there has to be a "balance" of living Downtown with all the urban amenities that come with it, and that there may be too many amenities, like bars. Maybe it's a Nebraska thing, leftover from her days in Omaha.

Gerrish and condo association representatives from other buildings near Water and Pittsburgh Streets, also opposed the new bar, C2, that was planned for the building known as Castings Point, next to The Social and Moct. They objected to the potential for parking problems, noise and litter, problems for many a condo dweller.

Gerrish and other opponents said they already tired of the bar activity in their 'hood and didn't want anymore. Another point of contention was that the proposed bar was billed as another "Coyote Ugly" joint, with women dressed in cowboy outfits in a raucous atmosphere. It seems to be an obsession for the bar owner.

Co-owner Tim Ebert, who in a previous bar incarnation ran the suggestively-titled Coyote TNA on Old World 3rd Street for a few short years, said he had deals for 20 parking spots below the bar, but neighbors were skeptical since a Mexican restaurant was also slotted in the same building. Neighbors also said 20 spots weren't nearly enough for a bar with a capacity of nearly 200.

Ebert also found himself under attack for other business practices, which included deceptive advertising charges for a telemarketing business he was running as well as unemployment compensation warrants. The opposition was organizedand the committee chose not to grant the license.

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