Politics & Government

UPDATED: Waukesha Mayor Excluded From Water Sale Negotiating Team

Waukesha Water Utility general manager, city attorney and director of community development will be on team.

Waukesha Mayor Jeff Scrima will not be part of the water negotiation committee that will meet with Milwaukee, Oak Creek and Racine as the city is looking to purchase water from the three Lake Michigan communities.

The decision obviously angered Waukesha School Board Member Steve Edlund, who told the council during the public comment portion of the meet that he would fight to reduce the board to seven people if they did not give the power to the mayor. Edlund held seven fingers up in the air to signify his displeasure with the decision.

“I personally want somebody that is going to ask the other questions, that I know is going to ask the other questions, and that is the mayor,” said Alderman Eric Payne, who was seeking to put the mayor on the team.

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Payne was joined by aldermen Vance Skinner and John Kablinger in the vote to include the mayor.

The Common Council voted 12 to three to keep the mayor off the negotiating team.

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Instead, the alderman voted to include Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak, City Administrator Lori Luther and Director of Community Development Steve Crandell on the team.

Aldermen Roger Patton, Kalblinger, Brian White and Payne voted against that decision.

Many of the aldermen that spoke during the Common Council mentioned that they did not want any elected officials on the team.

"I can appreciate the emotional idea of having the mayor on there," Paulson said. "But it has never been something we have done in the past, and I can't see doing it now."

Cummings mentioned that the mayor did not bring forward any budget requests in the past few years to pursue other alternatives. The alderwoman said she wanted a unified front when it came to negotiations.

"We need a team with a  voice, a set of parameters, to negotiate the best deal for the city of Waukesha," Cummings said. "... Who wouldn’t want to be on that team? It is historic, you want your name on it."

For Cummings, it doesn't matter who Milwaukee, Oak Creek or Racine place on their negotiating team. Cummings also wanted Waukesha to put the appointed directors in charge of the water negotiations while leaving politics out of the discussions.

"We do it our way," Cummings said. "We are saying we are going to put that aside and put together the best team."


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