Elm Grove residents may be allowed to connect to water

Elm Grove's Public Works/Utilities Committee drafted an ordinance that would allow residents and businesses to connect to a new water main being installed in the village.

The committee reviewed the proposed ordinance, which included a fee structure for those who wish to connect, Monday.

The water main is being installed to serve a new senior-living center at 800 Wall St., but would also be able to serve residents or businesses in the eastern pressure zone.

According to the ordinance draft, water service and meters would be provided by the city of Brookfield, with a water connection fee imposed by the village to ensure a fair allocation of costs to properties that use the service.

The annual charge for residences that connect will be based on a formula that considers the number of bedrooms a property houses and the previous year's water use on the sewer bill. Commercial properties will be charged at a higher rate.

It is unknown how many people the new system would service and Water Service Subarea maps are being drawn to define the area the system would immediately serve.

The committee discussed future extensions and the immediate inclusion of The Park, Dunleth Circle and Emerald Woods.

An earlier proposal showed higher fees, but the committee decided it wouldn't be fair to pin the $130,000 connection cost to Brookfield on those connecting now rather than on all eventual users.

"We shouldn't stick the first people on this system with the whole cost," committee member Patrick Kressin said.

The panel will consider the final draft next month.