Elm Grove residents say 'no' to municipal water project
By an overwhelming majority, Elm Grove property owners in an area targeted to receive municipal water from Brookfield have rejected the proposal.
The municipal water project would have provided water to properties along a loop around the downtown area. Only property owners along the proposed loop would have paid a special assessment for the project, and those not connecting would have had a lien placed against their property.
However, the price tag was set at a maximum of $7,900 per unit, with one unit representing the average home. Commercial properties were based on estimated water usage to determine their number of units.
Of the commitment letters returned to Village Hall by the Monday deadline, 601 units said "no" to the water, while 94 units favored the project. Village officials have said they will not go through with the project unless more than half of the units agreed to participate.
There were 837 units in the proposed water loop. Residents who haven't yet returned commitment letters are asked to do so to enable the village can have an idea of where all the residents stand on the issue.
The largest water user in the village is the School Sisters of Notre Dame, represented by more than 100 units.
Mary Conarchy, spokeswoman for the School Sisters, released this statement on behalf of the group:
"We have researched this issue, consulted with experts and discussed it with many of our Elm Grove neighbors — both residents and businesses. We found that the municipal water project is not in our best interests at this time in our history. The vote submitted by the School Sisters of Notre Dame is in agreement with the majority of those in Elm Grove who voted on this issue."
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