Lots of questions over firing of Sue Black as County Parks director

MILWAUKEE -- There are more questions than answers over the firing of Sue Black as director of Milwaukee County Parks. But at this point, there are few answers because the case is simply considered a personnel matter.

Todd Grawoski runs the events and businesses set up along Bradford Beach. They have blossomed under Black. He says over the past few weeks, he had no clue anything was up because Black was at every major event at the beach.

"We agreed that the safety, the cleanliness public accessibility , those were all things we wanted to do for the community so every year we've developed it more and more and she's always supported those efforts," said Grawoski.

Black and Milwaukee County Parks have won national awards, including the Gold Medal Award for Parks Management. Under Black's leadership, there have been improvements at the Mitchell Park Domes and Lake Park. There's even a new beer garden opened at Estabrook Park.

Black is liked by parks groups, political and business leaders. She though she was liked by County Executive Chris Abele who advocated she get a raise and promoted an extension of her contract. That is, until Thursday, when he announced Black was gone and would not say why.

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