MILLER PARK ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY?

     The Milwaukee Common Council has voted to tentatively lend
the Brewers $15M for construction of a new $250M Menomonee Valley
ballpark, according to Kenneth Lamke of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
SENTINEL.  The 12-5 vote included a half-dozen major conditions
for the loan, which the council is expected to formally approve
as a part of regular budget deliberations this fall.  The vote
puts the council "firmly" on record in support of the project and
"significantly increased" the chances of a September
groundbreaking.  Timothy Sheehy, President of the Metropolitan
Milwaukee Assoc. of Commerce, which is coordinating $14M in
business loans for the club:  "The financing package, in my mind,
has been put to rest."  WI Gov. Tommy Thompson said negotiating a
lease with the Brewers would be the next step in the stadium
process (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 7/31).