Supervisor Martinez Rallies Committee on Parks and Culture to Delay WE Energies Permanent Easement
MILWAUKEE – On Thursday, January 12, the Committee on Parks and Culture unanimously laid over a resolution to grant a permanent easement to WE Energies for a gas line through parkland in the City of South Milwaukee. The motion was made to allow time for Parks staff to renegotiate the contract with more favorable terms for Milwaukee County. Supervisor Juan Miguel-Martinez made the following statement, rallying his colleagues to support the effort:
“My contempt for WE Energies stems from the sentiments of my constituency. I will not accept low-ball offers from a company that continuously exploits economically disadvantaged and poverty-stricken portions of our community. They increased our energy prices with no repercussions, and I will not allow them to undervalue our precious park lands,” said Supervisor Martinez. “WE Energies hiked prices on the people. Now it’s the people’s turn to hike prices on WE Energies. Providing Milwaukee County with roughly $4,000 in exchange for a lifetime easement is insulting. I am looking forward to our dedicated Parks staff returning to the bargaining table and getting Milwaukee County the best deal possible.”
WE Energies is proposing to replace and relocate a high-pressure gas main by Manitoba Avenue in the Oak Creek Parkway. The current proposal recommends that WE Energies will pay a one-time payment of $0.64/square foot as compensation for the 0.1607-acre easement, which will be approximately $4,080.
The proposed final easement acreage on parkland is approximately 0.1607 per acre, or 7,000 square feet. The purpose of the gas main is to improve system reliability and safety for the gas customers in the area.
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.
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