Waukesha council approves special assessment and 15-year, 2% financing for Silvernail Road sewer project

The Waukesha City Common Council approved a final resolution to assess property owners for the installation of sanitary sewer along Silvernail Road and associated road reconstruction, adopting a 15-year financing term at 2% interest.

The measure, approved after public comment and Board of Public Works review, sets the assessment at roughly $17,711.67 per affected parcel with the option to prepay the assessment (no interest) within the statutory prepayment window. The council vote to adopt the resolution was recorded as passed (yes: 11, no: 0) at the meeting.

The decision follows months of public discussion and three steps of formal consideration: preliminary engineering and notification, a preliminary assessment, and Board of Public Works final recommendation. At the Board of Public Works meeting staff noted that the board moved to extend the repayment term and reduce interest from previously discussed rates, and presented the updated terms to the council for final approval.

Residents from Silvernail Road and nearby parcels spoke at length during the public comment portion. Several property owners said they opposed the assessment or could not afford it. Christine Garlock, who identified herself as the owner of an adjacent property at 3025 Silvernail Road, told the council she and other owners oppose the sewer because they are on wells and septic and said they had insufficient notice about the special-assessment process. Mike Plummer, another Silvernail Road resident, asked the council to “work with us a little bit” and reiterated requests for lower financing terms, citing concurrent costs from We Energies for electric upgrades.

Council members and staff stressed trade-offs of timing and cost. Alex (Director of Public Works) summarized the multi-step assessment process and noted the council was being asked to adopt the final resolution reflecting the Board of Public Works’ recommendation. Alderperson Wilson moved to approve the resolution as presented; Alderperson Piper seconded. Council discussion acknowledged the hardship for some residents but emphasized that delaying sewer installation while the road is reconstructed would likely raise future costs for the same work.

The approved terms allow equal installments over 15 years at 2% interest; property owners may pay the assessment in full at closing (no interest) or take the installment schedule. Staff also advised residents to consult with We Energies about separate electric-service costs, which some residents estimated could be substantial.

The council’s action was procedural and limited to the assessment and financing terms; the council did not require property owners to connect immediately to the sewer system. The final resolution requires recording the assessment and will be administered under the city’s standard assessment procedures.

Implementation steps noted by staff include recording the assessment, mailing final notices to affected property owners, and coordination with contractors and utility providers for construction timing. The council vote on the resolution was followed by additional agenda business.

Provenance: The public hearing on the Silvernail Road assessment and the Board of Public Works recommendations and council action appear in the meeting transcript beginning where public comment on Silvernail is opened and through the council’s final vote on the resolution.