Mayor Scrima on Veto of Water Negotiation Team

Would the Packers ever start a game without all of their defensive players on the field? In American football, the numbers of players on each team are matched for good reason. Having equal offensive and defensive players on each team is fair. Having 7 offensive players on one team playing against 3 defensive players on the other team would be catastrophic – catastrophic that is for the team with only 3 players.

The same holds true with the water negotiations between the City of Milwaukee and the City of Waukesha. Milwaukee has already firmly established their 7 member water negotiation team, which includes Milwaukee’s: Mayor, Attorney, Superintendent of Water Works, Council President, Comptroller, Director of Budget, and Legislative representative (Google: Milwaukee Resolution File #080457).

The City of Waukesha Council has also recently established Waukesha’s water negotiation team, which consists of only 3 players. Waukesha’s 3 member team includes Waukesha’s: Community Development Director Steve Crandell; Water Utility Manager Dan Duchniak, who doesn’t even live in Waukesha; and Administrator Lori Luther, who has publicly admitted she has been interviewing for other jobs, and may not have to live with the decision long-term.

There is no doubt about who is playing in this big game – it’s Milwaukee and Waukesha. Oak Creek and Racine are unfeasible due to significantly greater distances and costs. The former Waukesha Mayor openly stated that “The future of Waukesha is tied to Milwaukee and vice versa” (Google: Full Steam Ahead, Milwaukee Journal). The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission’s Regional Water Supply Newsletter 4 exhibits the “planned water transmission main” from Milwaukee and states that this will benefit the “excess capacity of Milwaukee Water Works” (Google: SEWRPC Regional Water Newsletter 4). Moreover Waukesha’s Application shows the water pipeline from Milwaukee with the preferred and “assumed” Lake Michigan source with a capital cost estimate of $164 million as coming from Milwaukee.

Make no mistake about the motivations involved. For Milwaukee this game is about matters more significant than water, it’s about politics. Milwaukee has repeatedly and openly stated that any water sale to Waukesha must include a “non-compete clause” for Waukesha’s future business and jobs and additional “economic compensation” from Waukesha above and beyond the water rates, among other things (Google: Milwaukee Resolution File #080457). Entering into any such agreement with Milwaukee would only create fertile grounds for future and never-ending political battles and litigation. Google “Fighting Water Rate Hikes, Milwaukee Journal” and remember the “sewer wars.” The Regional Planning Commission also recognized that water sales will likely be used “to address existing socio-economic imbalances” between selling and buying communities (SEWRPC Regional Water Newsletter 4).

This is a serious game and playing Milwaukee’s 7 member water negotiating team against Waukesha’s 3 member negotiating team is neither reasonable nor fair. The stakes are too high. Waukesha cannot be at a disadvantage with over $164 million on the line. That’s not how serious business is conducted.

Milwaukee has their elected Mayor, elected Attorney and elected Council President on their negotiating team, who are all accountable to the citizens of Milwaukee. Don’t the citizens of Waukesha deserve the same ability to hold their players accountable - that their elected representatives be right there on the field, asking the hard questions and sticking up for them? Also remember that according to Wisconsin meeting law, these negotiation meetings will be held behind closed doors, so a well-rounded team is critical.

Therefore, as Mayor of the City of Waukesha, I am calling a time out and vetoing the Council’s action of Tuesday June 7, 2011, where the Waukesha’s Council created a water negotiation team of only 3 members, none of who were elected by the citizens of Waukesha.

In order to restore proper alignment to City of Waukesha government and create the strongest water negotiation team possible for the citizens, my recommendation to the Waukesha Common Council is that Waukesha’s water negotiation team also include Waukesha’s Mayor, Attorney, Council President, and a representative from the Town of Waukesha, since their citizens are within the City’s water service area - bringing the total number on the team up to 7 and equal with Milwaukee’s established team. This is the largest deal in the history of Waukesha, and the more eyes and minds that are directly involved on Waukesha’s side the better.

We wouldn’t want the Packers to ever start a game without all of their defensive players being on the field. Playing Milwaukee’s 7 member water negotiation team against Waukesha’s 3 member water negotiation team is neither reasonable nor fair. The citizens of Waukesha deserve their elected officials directly on their team, not standing on the sidelines. The citizens of Waukesha deserve a solid 7 on 7 representation.

Citizens of the City and Town of Waukesha may exercise their American democratic rights by telling their friends, contacting their aldermen or board members, contacting the press, and coming to the City of Waukesha Council meeting on Tuesday June 21st, when this subject will be re-evaluated. Only together can and will we maintain control and provide stability for our community! No one knows what’s right for your community better than you.