Waukesha panel rejects mayor's referendum plan

Aug. 23, 2011

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By Laurel Walker of the Journal Sentinel

Aug. 23, 2011 0

Waukesha - Mayor Jeff Scrima is batting 0-for-2 before Common Council committees he asked to consider his proposal for holding a referendum on any major city building project costing more than $50 million.

The Ordinance and License Committee Monday unanimously rejected his plan to put capital projects like the potential water supply project between Waukesha and Lake Michigan to voters in a referendum.

Ald. Steve Johnson, committee chairman, said committee members questioned the impact of such a policy when public improvements are mandated and affect the health and safety of residents. Waukesha is under a 2018 deadline to bring its water supply into compliance with federal standards for radium content.

It was the second committee to reject Scrima's idea. The Finance Committee earlier voted 3-2 against it.

Scrima had asked both committees to consider the referendum policy, which would require a citizen vote on the estimated $164 million or higher plan to bring Lake Michigan water to Waukesha through Milwaukee, Oak Creek or Racine. Scrima has publicly fought to sidetrack the plan. In calling for a referendum, he has said citizens know best how to spend their money.

Johnson said the committee vote would be brought to the council's next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 6, for concurrence.

About Laurel Walker

Laurel Walker covered local, school and county government for 20 years -- the last half of that at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel -- before she was named Waukesha County columnist in 1997. Today she writes about the people, places and events around metropolitan Milwaukee with a broad suburban focus. She was the youngest of nine children raised on a central Wisconsin farm before leaving the nest for journalism studies at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a masters degree at the University of Oregon. She has spent the last half of her life in Waukesha County, where she and her husband raised two sons. Though she has a fondness for life in Waukesha, she eagerly partakes in the culture of the big city to the east and the recreation of the forests to the west. With sons in the arts, she has a special fondness for symphonic music concerts and art museums. She finds peace in a good book at a Northwoods getaway weekend, adventure in family visits to the east and west coasts, and satisfaction in a column well-written that reaches readers.