Common Council Debates Water Deal

Both, New Land Enterprises’ Latitutde apartment building proposal and Mandel Group’s UWM dormitory, Cambridge Commons, proposal were approved without any debate on the floor and both are expect to break ground after winter.

There was some debate concerning the purchase of Black Holocaust Museum’s building due to concerns as to whether or not the city was going to be operating the museum.  Common Council President Willie Hines specifically stated that this was a “bricks and mortar” purchase.  Further discussion indicated the goal of the purchase was to allow the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee to control the property and utilize it in the redevelopment of Bronzeville.  After the intent of the outlay was made clear, the item was approved.

Another item of note concerned We Energies’ agreement to sell its water system assets to the City of Mequon.  The agreement required the City of Milwaukee’s consent to approve the contract because it is the water provider between the entities.  Alderman Robert Bauman argued that “everybody else is benefiting from this transaction and our tax payers should see some sort of benefit as well.”  He added that at the very least the City of Milwaukee has a role to play in this deal and that because it has taken city time and resource a $15,000 fee should be applied to the deal.  Alderman Joe Davis weighed in saying the potential of harming the City of Milwaukee’s relationship with We Energies over $15,000 “is not worth it.  This item was passed without the $15,000 fee.