Council approves measure for the use of “urban wood”

On Tuesday, the Common Council approved Council file #230254, directing the Department of Public Works to develop plans for the use of Milwaukee’s “urban wood” and begin assessing the potential of using this lumber to supplement the city’s income.

The file was authored by Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs and requires the Department of Public Works to report to the Common Council within three months of adoption on the approximate commercial value of the city’s “urban wood” products. It also requires the department to begin compiling a list of possible alternative collaborators or bidders for the city’s lumber supply.

Alderwoman Coggs, chair of the Licenses Committee, said that an initiative to assess the value of the lumber supply from “urban wood” could bring in new benefits for the city.

“Over the past several years, we’ve seen the price of lumber rise significantly, and we’ve also realized the potential value of the city’s discarded wood,” the alderwoman said. “I believe that this initiative has the potential to tap into a source of income that we have overlooked in the past, and if the report indicates that these measures could be profitable, then we should explore all opportunities and potential collaborators to maximize the revenue the city can get from its lumber.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.