Wausau Water Works
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A member of the Wausau Water Works Commission expressed doubt about the city’s partnership with Community Infrastructure Partners for a five-year lead service line replacement program.
Commissioner Jim Force opened the meeting with a prepared statement, noting that trust and transparency are vital to the program’s success. He doesn’t think that the partnership has either at this time.
“My conclusion is that we don’t have the needed support,” said Force. “Three of our council members have voted to revisit and perhaps cancel the contract with CIP, and I’ve opened my emails three times in the last weeks to read letters to the editor strongly criticizing the CIP partnership.”
Force adds that he was disappointed with CIP CEO Shawn Kerafsky’s response to criticisms regarding his involvement with Corvias, a company that held housing management contracts with the federal government for military housing. Corvais was accused of providing dirty and rodent-infested living conditions, leading to health issues for those stationed at the base. Kerafsky provided the city with a statement regarding his involvement at a recent City Council meeting, but Force wasn’t impressed with what he heard.
Force called Kerafsky “defensive and argumentative,” adding that he felt the response was “hardly good form.” He added that many of those being critical aren’t against the project, they just want to know that the project will get done right.
“None of these critics are opposed to replacing lead lines, they are simply asking for communication and transparency. Credibility is paramount if this project is to succeed,” added Force. “In my opinion, we don’t have it.”
No decision regarding the agreement between the city and CIP was made during Monday morning’s meeting, as the item was not agendized for action. An update on the agreement was included with the Director’s Report for Monday’s meeting, which allowed for discussion on the item among Commissioners. The agreement is expected to come back to the city council at a future meeting for final approval after alders voted 8-3 against revisiting the agreement in late January.
RELATED: Lead Service Line Replacement Project Officially Kicks Off in Wausau
The five-year program is scheduled to replace the 8,000 remaining lead service lines in the city at no cost to the property owner. The project, which ceremoniously kicked off last October, is being watched by stakeholders at both the state and federal levels as a possible blueprint for how to replace all such pipes nationwide over the next decade-plus.
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