The Muskego Common Council approved a resolution addressing funding for the Hillandale Drive water‑main project following an extended and at times heated debate about whether restating or reauthorizing past budget actions could put federal ARPA funds at risk.

Resident Cathy Shabaratti urged the council to prioritize ethics and transparency, saying public frustration over the project has prompted accusations that the council mishandled the matter. "The cover up is always worse than the crime," Shabaratti told the council during public comment, warning that passing the resolution as written could be an inaccurate or insufficient remedy.

Council debate centered on two competing resolutions: one presented as a confirmation of what had already occurred and another framed as a reauthorization that opponents said would reopen and alter a 2024 budget decision. A council member argued reopening the budget could create ambiguity under federal ARPA rules and expose the city to a risk that would require returning funds; the speaker described the possible exposure as materially significant and said they "could not take that risk." Another council member countered that public resolutions should be based on verifiable, on‑the‑record actions and not recollections of closed session discussions.

Council members also referenced prior closed‑session conversations and differing recollections of what transpired there; several members said the factual record is disputed. After debate, a call to end debate produced a roll‑call vote; the resolution vote resulted in an even split and the mayor cast the deciding vote to approve the measure.

What happens next: The resolution confirms the city's account of how the Hillandale Drive project was paid for and remains subject to any future audit or legal review; council members noted they had received advice from the city's auditor and the Waukesha County district attorney's office in prior meetings about how to proceed.

The public comment period preceding the vote included sustained criticism from residents asking for clearer documentation and transparency around project funding decisions.