Waukesha council finalizes sewer assessment for Silvernail Road after weeks of resident protest

The Waukesha Common Council voted to approve a final resolution to install sanitary sewer on Silvernail Road and to assess affected property owners, adopting a financing option of 15 years at 2% interest.

The item, which prompted multiple public comments from Silvernail Road residents, was presented to the council after the Board of Public Works reduced costs and recommended longer-term, lower-rate financing. Alex, director of public works, told the council the board nd staff had reviewed the project and proposed terms for assessment financing.

Residents who spoke during public comment said the assessment would impose a large financial burden. "We're...on single income with babies, wives that stay at home, or elderly that are on fixed income," said Christine Garlock, who identified herself as owner of 3017 Silvernail Road and the adjacent property. She and other speakers said many of the 11 properties opposing the sewer were on well and septic systems and questioned the process and notice they received about assessment amounts and meeting timing.

Mike Plummer, a resident at 2927 Silvernail Road, reiterated the request for the council to "work with us a little bit" and to keep the 2% for 15 years financing option if the sewer installation was required. Jerry Dacey, another resident whose property was annexed into Waukesha from Pewaukee, told the council, "We didn't really want that. Our taxes doubled as we came into Waukesha," and asked council members to reconsider the expense for homeowners who said they did not need sewer service.

Council members discussed prior Board of Public Works decisions and the trade-offs between doing the work now while the road is reconstructed and delaying. Several council members noted that if individual septic systems fail later, property owners would still be required to connect, likely at higher cost. Alderperson Piper noted staff and the board had negotiated terms and recommended the 15-year, 2% option as more affordable than earlier proposals.

The formal motion to approve the final resolution and assessment terms (15 years at 2% interest, with option for owners to pay in full without interest) passed by roll call as recorded by the clerk with a tally of yes: 11, no: 0. The council and staff emphasized property owners would not be required to connect immediately after construction; hookup could occur later at the owner's choice.

The council and staff also encouraged residents to consult with WE Energies and City staff about potential ways to reduce related electrical costs that some residents cited, and staff said the assessment and financing documents would reflect standard "as-is" sale or connection language and other final legal clarifications before being recorded.

The decision completes the multi-step assessment process that began with Board of Public Works review and a public hearing earlier in the project timeline. The council vote included the standard option that property owners may prepay the assessment within a specified period to avoid interest.

For now, the city will proceed with sewer installation during the road reconstruction; individual property owners retain the option of when to connect.