In late July, the City of Milwaukee Common Council unanimously voted to create a Flooding Study Task Force, which will “recommend remedies for storm water and sewage backup flooding of city residential and commercial properties, and flooding of streets and alleyways.” Mayor Barrett signed the resolution in early August.
Common Council President Hines has three appointments to the task force. He has named Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Jim Bohl and State Representative Sandy Pasch as his appointed members. Alderman Hamilton is chair of the Judiciary and Legislation Committee and a former board member of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). Alderman Bohl is chair of the Licenses Committee and was the lead sponsor of the resolution that created the Flooding Study Task Force. Representative Pasch represents areas of the City of Milwaukee , as well as North Shore suburbs, which experienced severe flooding.
“Both Alderman Hamilton and Alderman Bohl will bring considerable experience, insight and expertise to the task force,” said President Hines. “Alderman Hamilton’s district was hit harder than any other in the city by the historic storm of July 22, so he is intimately aware of this issue’s urgency and importance. I commend Alderman Bohl for initiating this task force, and I know that numerous residents and businesses in his district have endured flood damage, too.”
With regard to Representative Sandy Pasch, President Hines called her “an ideal appointment” to this body. “The city and the suburbs must work collaboratively to prevent future flooding of homes and businesses,” he continued. “We cannot afford to silo our efforts – everyone must be at the table so that comprehensive, regional solutions can be uncovered to prevent future flooding and sewage backups.”
In addition to Pres. Hines’ appointments, other appointees are the commissioner of the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, the executive director of MMSD, the executive director of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC), a representative from the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and an appointee of Mayor Barrett.
The Flooding Study Task Force was created with an aggressive timeline for reporting its results. Findings are scheduled to be reported to the City of Milwaukee Common Council no later than May 31, 2011.
