The water sale issue potentially involving Waukesha as the buyer and Milwaukee as a seller is now framed by home rule considerations:
The Milwaukee Common Council approved without discussion this morning - - validating by a 14-0 vote an earlier Public Works Committee action approved also without objection - - a negotiation with Waukesha to discuss selling water only within Waukesha's current water service territory and not serving the expanded territory that Waukesha included in its application for a Lake Michigan diversion.
Friday afternoon update: In reaction, Waukesha says it expects to conclude a water deal with Oak Creek or Racine in August.
Waukesha has said that is an unacceptable condition; the lead state DNR water staffer working on the state's yet-to-be-completed review of the application has said Milwaukee cannot make that stipulation.
Though Waukesha is still free to sit down with Milwaukee and have a discussion.
Essentially, Milwaukee has open the door; Waukesha is saying, not widely enough.
All eight Great Lakes states would have to approve Waukesha's application prior to implementation, and an application would need a sale agree with a selling community.
Waukesha has said Milwaukee is its preferred supplier, though Racine and Oak Creek are also options.
At this point, many uncertainties.
Response from Waukesha? The state? Fast-tracked negotiations with Oak Creek or Racine?
The second battle is over. The fronts are still where they were 2 weeks ago. Your move Walkersha. How are those lawns working for you?
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile - Peewaukee restricts lawn watering - what to do Peewaukee, what to do?
ReplyDeleteIf you think watching your lawn turn brown and go into a severe hibernation just wait until you can't even turn on our dishwasher or God forbid fill your pool after all the water evaporates. CO has water police. What will Walkersha have to enforce water restrictions?
Can't Cathy Stepp redraw the map?
ReplyDeleteI mean, she wants the DNR to run like a business, and surely she has a crayon or two in her desk drawer.
. . . or a lipstick pencil.
ReplyDelete