Waukesha · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Waukesha public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
S.J. Louis Construction v. City of Waukesha litigation
Deposits in the SJ Lewis lawsuit should wrap up by early September, with expert reports to follow and a possible court date set after a December update to the court. Mediation scheduling has been slowed by a lack of communication from SJ Lewis's attorney.
Water Diversion Rights
Waukesha got a rare legal OK to pull drinking water from Lake Michigan even though it sits outside the Great Lakes Basin. That matters because it affects tap-water safety, utility bills, and the precedent for other cities seeking Great Lakes water.
Chloride compliance deadline
The utility has until November to meet chloride compliance rules and will send letters to customers who haven't optimized their water softeners.
Fox River and Saratoga Lake dredging
Candidate interviews repeatedly circled back to the shallow, flooding Fox River through District 11 — whether to dredge, fund a study (estimated $150,000-$250,000), or pursue upstream stormwater partnerships. Ald. Chrisien noted a dredging/dam study is already underway.
Solar carport at East Terrace Apartments
A 130-unit downtown high-rise is adding rooftop and carport-mounted solar panels, shading parking and feeding excess power back to the neighborhood grid. The zoning code had no solar-specific rules, so the project needed a variance because the lot has no rear yard.
Great Lakes water diversion
Waukesha spent years trying to ditch radium-contaminated wells for Lake Michigan water, and the final deal could become the template for future Great Lakes diversions. That makes it a big test case for regional drinking water—and for who gets access to the lakes.
Water Diversion
Waukesha has flipped the switch on its Lake Michigan water diversion, pulling lake water and sending treated water back. It’s the city’s big move off radium-tainted wells and a major drinking-water milestone.