Waukesha Diversion From Great Lakes Could Hinge On More Than Money

I'm passing along WUWM's account of the recent 'get-to-know-you' session between Milwaukee aldermen and new Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima as the two cities edge closer to negotiations over Lake Michigan water.

While I was not privy to the conversations among the officials, and their post-meeting news conference, too, I was struck by these paragraphs in the report:

"Milwaukee is just as concerned about losing jobs and business to Waukesha, if it can suddenly accommodate big water users, according to Council President Willie Hines.

“Well, of course we want to recognize smart growth – we want to be sensitive to our legislation that we currently have in place that speaks to anti-poaching - so it’s very important for us to work with the region in mind,” Hines says.

"I ask Hines to talk more about his anti-poaching comment.

“Well, I would say it means that Waukesha firms are there servicing Waukesha community. Milwaukee firms and companies are here servicing Milwaukee communities. It’s important for us to respect that and that we should not recruit Waukesha firms to help deal with many of Milwaukee issues. And it’s a two way street as well; we want to make sure the region is strong and that we’re not pitted against one another as we try to stabilize the region for the greater good of all," Hines say.

"He says it’s too early to speculate what Milwaukee would charge to pump Lake Michigan water 18 miles west to quench Waukesha’s need.

"While Milwaukee pulls out its calculator, Waukesha officials plan to meet with two more potential Lake Michigan conduits - Racine and Oak Creek."

Here's what interested me:

1. It's not clear that Milwaukee's calculator - - to determine a charge for the water (presumably above what the State Public Service Commission sets in per-gallon rates) - - is the key factor in whether a deal is done.

There might be a payment, or not.

2. That's because the official resolution of city policy to which Council President Hines refers - - passed 13-0 and signed by Mayor Tom Barrett - - has policy thresholds and actions (having nothing to do with, say, a New Berlin-style payment) that Waukesha would have to meet to Milwaukee's satisfaction - - affordable housing strategies, transit system plans, land use and others - - along with the anti-poaching pledge that Council President Hines mentioned.

Given the internal dynamics that influence a business' decision to relocate, poaching would be hard to prove, as important as that issue is.

And who is going to enforce a resolution if a claim were made?

So I'd go back to the rest of the Council resolution and the full context - - it

s more a road map than a mere checklist - - in which Milwaukee has said, officially, how any out-of-basin water sale shall be considered, evaluated and concluded.

I've earlier posted the resolution both as text and as a link because I don't want the details and nuances lost in the public debate and consciousness.

Here is the Council file and key document, item #090457.