Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Can Waukesha Get Oak Creek Water For Less Than $261 Million?

Or the $164 million projected as the cost of Milwaukee water that Waukesha may miss buying because it wants to serve more territory with diverted water than Milwaukee cares to infuse?

Waukesha says it's closing in on a deal with Oak Creek, though Waukesha had projected that cost at nearly $100 million more than a deal with Milwaukee, located closer to Waukesha.

Details here, thanks to The Journal Sentinel.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This deal only had a slight chance of passing with Milwaukee on board.

Without Milwaukee, there is no way that all of the other states agree to a diversion. Does Waukesha not believe that Barrett has strong enough contacts to derail this whole thing. One nice call by Barrett to the Democrat Governor of New York or MN and it is pretty much defeated.

They won't even need to get the other states involved.

Anonymous said...

What happened with the requirement that each governor for all great lakes states and provinces needs to sign off on the diversion? There will be lawsuits. Why are stories posted as if they only need a deal and the water will start flowing?

James Rowen said...

A signed agreement to sell is part of an completed application - - thus part of what is reviewed by the other states and their governors.

Anonymous said...

and now instead of Waukesha having Milwaukee in their corner, Milwaukee officials will be doing what they can to sabotage the deal.

Barrett likely has 1 Governor's "no" vote already and that is all he will need to send Waukesha back to the drawing board.

Anonymous said...

The Canadian Premiers do not vote,only provide input. Same with the Native American Nations.

$261 million is with an Underwood Creek return.

An Underwood Creek return is no where near the point of origin as required by the compact.

Waukesha knows this - and so does Milwaukee.

The MOU is worth less than toilet paper and Oak Creek is being used.

P.S. The Waukesha Water Utility doesn't have a high enough borrowing limit to afford Milwaukee without using the City's credit. I can't wait to see the financial plan for the additional dream number of $97 million.

Anonymous said...

An Oak Creek supply with an an Underwood Creek return is estimated to cost $97 million more than Milwaukee with and Underwood Creek return.

Oak Creek with a Root River return is $117 million more.

Oak Creek with a Lake Michigan return is $151 million more.

Source: Waukesha Water Utility

Waukesha knows the return flow is an issue with the language in the compact. Unfortunately their Springsted financial model will not support debt of this debt magnitude without a referendum to borrow.