Despite a pledge to voluntarily hold their tax levy increase to 2% (sewerage districts are exempt from the sublimating Dyole tax “freeze”), and despte the fact that only one member of the board supported the higher tax increase in August, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District – the crappy water people – passed a 4% tax levy increase 8-3 (it required a 2/3rds vote, and after it initially failed 7-4 and the board lawyer reminded everybody they needed 2/3rds, Jeanette Bell changed her vote). Owen and Kevin already have many of the thoughts I do, but I feel it necessary to add an inside-the-district perspective. As Charlie Sykes and Owen point out, “Who elected these people?” Let’s find out –
According to the MMSD site, these 11 tax-and-spenders are never up for election. 7 are appointed by the mayor of Milwaukee, and the other 4 are appointed by an outfit called the Intergovernmental Cooperation Council of Milwaukee County (comprised of the leaders of the other 18 municipalities in Milwaukee County – that’s right, you in the FLOW communities have no voice). So, let’s take a look at the Effluent Eleven, starting with the 8 who thought that jacking up the taxes was a good idea:
- Jeannette Bell – commission chair – mayor of West Allis, who flip-flopped (I’m surprised at the flip half; she sublimated the Craps freeze back in West Allis to the tune of 2.75% plus a fresh $30 recycling “fee”)
- Dennis M. Grzezinski – commission vice chair – runs his own law firm
- Preston Cole – City of Milwaukee Superintendent of Environmental Services
- Theresa Estmess – mayor of Wauwatosa (gee, what a surprise, she’s proposing a 4.0% levy increase back in Wauwatosa)
- Ashanti Hamilton – 1st district alderman in Milwaukee
- Candice Owley – president, Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Local 5001
- Dale Richards – former mayor of Oak Creek (victim of the 2003 tax revolt)
- Wallace White – principal, W2Excel,LLC
The other 3 members of the Effluent Eleven, who can look forward to a replacement:
- Robert Brunner – River Hills village president
- Pedro Colon (D-Milwaukee) – state representative
- David Cullen (D-Milwukee) – state representative
However, don’t confuse these three for tax-freezers or responsible spenders, they simply wanted to borrow more.
Homer nod – had the wrong story linked, is now fixed.
Extensions/revisions – removed links to the racist Jentinel
