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From the Director, Department of Transportation and Public Works, requesting authorization to apply for and accept Fund for Lake Michigan grants for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
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POLICY
The DTPW Director is requesting authorization to have the Department of Transportation and Public Works-Architects, Engineers and Environmental Services Division apply for and accept grants offered by the Fund for Lake Michigan in fiscal year 2011.
BACKGROUND
The Fund for Lake Michigan was established in conjunction with the resolution in 2008 of disputes concerning the Oak Creek Power Plant and Elm Road Generating Station in southeastern Wisconsin. The agreement establishing the Fund provided for payments of four million dollars each year from 2011 through 2035 to funds projects that address, reduce and mitigate water quality impacts in Lake Michigan. Unlike many grants of this type, this grant does not require a matching contribution of funds by the applicant.
Milwaukee County owns and maintains various facilities that are in need of repair or restoration that, by such actions, could reduce water quality impacts on Lake Michigan or improve habitat, and thus would appear to be solid candidates for grants under this fund.
Milwaukee County also has worked collaboratively with a number of agencies and non-governmental organizations (e.g., Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust) to identify problems and potential solutions for regional water quality issue. Such collaborative efforts also would improve opportunities for receipt of a grant through this program.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the DTPW Director be authorized to have the Department of Transportation and Public Works-Architects, Engineers and Environmental Services Division apply for and accept Fund for Lake Michigan grants for fiscal years 2011 and 2012.
Prepared by: Stevan Keith, P.E., Sust & Environmental Engineer
Approved by:
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