Changes
on the way: wetlands, floodplain to replace buildings
on Hawley, State
Feb.
27, 2006 -- The Milwaukee Metropoltan
Sewerage District commissioners on Monday are expected
to approve a $163,220 contract to develop wetlands
and grade-lowering plans for areas along the Menomonee
River north of Story Hill.
The
project area includes the former Badger Alloy property
at 1029 N. Hawley Rd. and the former Central Ready
Mixed property at 5013 W.State St.
"Once
constructed, the floodplain lowering and wetlands
will have sufficient capacity to accommodate stormwater
flows from the Hawley Road bridge and will also
provide a water quality benefit," according
to MMSD documents.
MMSD
staff is recommending that Hey & Associates
Inc., of Brookfield, be awarded the contract.
Cullen
amendment defeated
Nov.
16, 2004 -- The Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District commission rejected State Rep.
David Cullen's proposal to slice about $7.5 million
in flood control measures from next year's budget.
The
amendment proposed by Cullen was defeated, 9-2,
MMSD spokesman Bill Graffin said.
Cullen's
amendment, designed to hold the district's tax levy
increase to 1.8%, would have cut $2.5 million from
a flood control project along State St. on the city's
west side.
The
amendment also would have eliminated $693,690 for
property acquisition under the Greenways Initiative
and would have reduced from $2.4 million to $800,000
money budgeted for conservation easements, according
to MMSD documents. Those programs allow land to
lie undeveloped to help protect against future flooding.
The
budget adopted Monday raises the tax levy by about
4.4%, Graffin said.
Cullen's
proposed cut would cut State St. flood control,
conservation programs
Nov.
11, 2004 -- About $2.5 million would be
cut next year from a flood control project along
State St. on the city's west side, under an MMSD
budget amendment offered by State Rep. David Cullen
is adopted.
The
amendment also would eliminate $693,690 for property
acquisition under the Greenways Initiative and would
reduce from $2.4 million to $800,000 money budgeted
for conservation easements, according to MMSD documents.
Those programs allow land to lie undeveloped to
help protect against future flooding.
Cullen: Amendment would cut west side flood
control, conservation easements
Cullen
has proposed raising the Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District property tax levy by 1.8%, rather
than the 4.3% proposed by staff. If adopted, a total
of $7.5 million would be cut from the proposed 2005
capital budget. projects next year.
The
cut would reduce the equalized tax rate by 3 cents,
from $1.53 per $1,000 to $1.50 per $1,000.
The
funding reduction would put completion of the flood
control effort along State St. "as currently
envisioned, seriously in doubt," said MMSD
Budget Manager Steven Kreklow.
The
western Milwaukee project, as envisioned by MMSD,
is to include construction of a levee or floodwall
immediately south of the railroad tracks near State
St. on the north side of the Menomonee River.
Cullen
represents part of Milwaukee's west side, including
Story Hill, in the Assembly. He was attending a
family funeral and was not available for comment.
Cullen
was appointed to the commission by Mayor Tom Barrett.
The mayor's office finds the proposed proposed 4.3%
increase "acceptable," Chief of Staff
Patrick Curley said.
Because
the district limits tax levy increases to the rate
of personal income growth, a cut one year cannot
simply be made up the next year by raising taxes
even more, Kreklow said. Instead, the revenue stream
is negatively affected for years into the future.
The
final public hearing on the budget will be held
at Monday 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Milwaukee Metropolitan
Sewerage District offices, 260 W. Seeboth. The commission
is scheduled to act on the budget later that day.
