Waukesha Water Utility Votes To Recommend Lake Michigan Diversion: Showdown Council Vote April 8th

No surprise there - - as the utility has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants (and by the way, where is that promised report on the total?) and years in planning for the recommendation to apply to the Great Lakes Governors for permission to divert Lake Michigan water.

The utililty vote was purely pro forma.

Now the draft application with the utility's affirmative vote goes to the Waukesha Common Council April 8th - - two days after the election which may turn on the entire question - - for a more important vote.

The oddest scenario would have Lake Michigan water supply opponent and mayoral candidate Jeff Scrima defeat pro-diversion incumbent Mayor Larry Nelson - - leaving Nelson on April 8th a lame duck but in a position to manage the council meeting and, if the utility recommendation were approved, able to sign it.

I'm not saying that will happen, and I think the election will be a close contest - - but things could get dicey in Waukesha democracy-wise should Scrima take office with a $164 million (and sure to rise in real costs, as things do) Lake Michigan water supply plan moving forward against which Scrima, a first-time candidate, campaigned hard.

And if were to win, you've have to say, effectively.

Waukesha could lay the entire question over for one more meeting with little penalty and avoid a messy processs, but at the most recent council meeting, Mayor Nelson said the vote would happen April 8th.

Stay tuned.