One Milwaukee County Supervisor Makes Sense On Water, Other Regional Issues

4th District Milwaukee County Board Supervisor Patricia Jursik provided the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel with the following outstanding letter published March 28th:

"Regional cooperation

"The March 24 article on the Great Lakes compact, "State struggles on where to draw the line," highlighted the political stakes for counties like Waukesha in the water debate, which raises another interesting issue: regional cooperation.

"Waukesha often has been a reluctant partner at best with Milwaukee County in transportation and employment.

"In Milwaukee County's last budget, Waukesha's cooperation was lost in maintaining a shared bus route to Brookfield Square, even though many employers in Waukesha County wanted this service.

"More recently, state and county leaders attended a meeting that included state Sen. Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) to explore regional growth obtained through maximizing the services of Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee County.

"Waukesha cannot have regional cooperation only when it suits Waukesha County.

"The Great Lakes basin is a natural boundary first. It is only a political boundary through the efforts of politicians such as Lazich and Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford).

"When Waukesha County and other out-of-basin communities embrace true regionalism, their commitment to cooperation through conservation and respect of the natural environment will be a welcome sign of regionalism.

"Patricia Jursik
Milwaukee County Supervisor, 4th District
Milwaukee"
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