tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post6747192350037196563..comments2023-10-08T04:12:46.273-05:00Comments on The Political Environment: Milwaukee Not Prepared To Provide Water To New Berlin: New Berlin Not Prepared To Pay For The EquipmentJames Rowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-1991789686667496802007-07-02T12:22:00.000-05:002007-07-02T12:22:00.000-05:00Sounds like we should all be reading the Sustainab...Sounds like we should all be reading the Sustainable Walworth blog. I'll check it out.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-47715649054166576122007-07-02T09:44:00.000-05:002007-07-02T09:44:00.000-05:00As a Walworth County resident, with much of our qu...As a Walworth County resident, with much of our quality of life dependent on the waters of our inland lakes, I know all too well about the critical nature of our water issues.<BR/><BR/>Its high time for New Berlin and all communities to get with the water conservation program through:<BR/><BR/>Eliminating un-necessary turf lawns - replace them with native plantings, xeriscape landscapes, edible plantings, trees and shrubs, etc that are less water-demanding. <BR/><BR/>Encouraging or mandating water-conserving/ water table recharging landscape features such as rain gardens, bio swales and infiltration trenches, as well as green roofs.<BR/><BR/>Encourage the installation of cisterns in new developments to capture rainwater for re-use, as well as retrofits to old buildings. <BR/><BR/>Reduce the amount of impervious surfaces in the landscape through pourous pavements, and promote trains for transportation and shipping, as the gravel bed of railroads is permeable, while additional highway lanes are not.<BR/><BR/>I am/will be discussing these alternatives in more detail in the months to come on my blog, Sustainable Walworth.Joshua Skolnickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03429086776789822611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-79039013617313294032007-06-30T15:53:00.000-05:002007-06-30T15:53:00.000-05:00As to a process for review:The AG's opinion says t...As to a process for review:<BR/><BR/>The AG's opinion says the other states have to review and approve.<BR/><BR/>The DNR has not scheduled a hearing on the application. It could if it wanted.<BR/><BR/>It rather reluctantly established a comment period on the revised application.<BR/><BR/>When the original application was received last year from New Berlin by the DNR, its existence was announced by the State of Michigan, which had received it and registered strong objections.<BR/><BR/>So the DNR has not led with a democratic process in this matter.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-9535552848247395662007-06-30T15:43:00.000-05:002007-06-30T15:43:00.000-05:00Very good column. Congratulations on your prescie...Very good column. Congratulations on your prescience. I can't help but think that DNR would be far better off taking a conservative approach to these applications and protect themselves from possible legal action and all kinds of hell from the other states. That would be very costly - again, taxpayers' money - and I would think a bad thing for the governor. Why wouldn't he see this and instruct the DNR accordingly? (Governor Doyle, if you see this issue as a no-win political situation, choose the right thing.) Furthermore, is there any public scrutiny of these applications? Any hearings? Any official process for comment? It seems like information comes out in bits and pieces without anyone putting it all together. Too bad the JS isn't the Washington Post.Steve Brancahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13228678808653806278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-87955618080339064212007-06-30T13:54:00.000-05:002007-06-30T13:54:00.000-05:00It amazes me that this entire conversation could b...It amazes me that this entire conversation could be taking place with all the parties knowing that the Attorney General said the application must be sent to the other states for their review - - something the DNR apparently doesn't want to do.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-22882426361809425022007-06-30T13:34:00.000-05:002007-06-30T13:34:00.000-05:00Moratorium, immediately, on all construction west ...Moratorium, immediately, on all construction west of the divide in Waukesha County.<BR/><BR/>It has been done before, a couple of decades ago, on the advice of SEWRPC to get control of the land -- and water -- before mismanaging it.<BR/><BR/>And if they want my water, and want me to pay to pump it there -- show me metropolitan collaboration, folks. Help to pay for my $1000 extra per choice student in Milwaukee that you mandated on us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com