Wausau council declines to reopen vote on HUD lead-hazard MOU after public testimony and procedural dispute

Wausau — The Wausau Common Council voted on March 10 to leave intact a previously approved memorandum of understanding with Healthy Opportunities for Latin Americans (OLA) and New Beginnings to administer a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development lead-hazard capacity-building grant, after residents and nonprofit leaders urged the council not to delay and alderpersons debated budget priorities and procedural rules.

Public commenters urged the council to proceed quickly to protect children from lead exposure. Rebecca Bourke, pastor of First United Methodist Church and president of New Beginnings for Refugees, told the council: "If we pass on this grant or if we delay its implementation, we don't just lose funding, we lose an opportunity to build a stronger and healthier community." Aaron Andrews, a New Beginnings board member, added that "HUD's guidelines for the lead education grant allows for funding to be used to cover operating costs," arguing that reimbursing staff time is necessary to meet federal reporting and outreach requirements.

The nut…