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Whitefish Bay accepts $150,000 DNR grant to fund lead‑service‑line outreach
Summary
The village board unanimously accepted a $150,000 Wisconsin DNR grant to fund two years of outreach, a shared case manager and GIS updates to support the village’s lead service line replacement program; funds are restricted to outreach and cannot be used to pay homeowners’ replacement costs.
Whitefish Bay trustees unanimously approved acceptance of a $150,000 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant intended for community outreach and education tied to the village’s lead service line replacement program.
Matt, who presented the grant to the board, said the money will fund marketing, door‑to‑door education, engagement activities and improvements to the village’s lead‑service‑line inventory so residents can view information about their property and neighborhood. “The DNR reached back out that we were awarded $150,000 to help out with our marketing, community support and outreach efforts,” Matt said, describing the award as a two‑year collaboration with Shorewood and the Northshore Health Department.
Board members asked whether the grant could be used to subsidize household replacement costs. Matt replied, “It is not. It was very specific with the grants that it’s for community outreach purposes and education.” The presentation clarified the funds will pay for outreach staff and materials, not construction or homeowner reimbursements.
Under the agreement, the grant will underwrite a new outreach/case‑manager position housed at the Northshore Health Department; that position is intended to be shared with Shorewood on roughly a 50/50 basis and funded for two years by the DNR award. The board also heard that some of the grant will support GIS upgrades, door‑to‑door education and community events to explain the replacement process to property owners. Matt said the village is preparing to begin corridor work in 2027, when the first mile of water main replacement in the CIP will affect many service lines.
Trustees moved and seconded acceptance of the grant as presented; after brief procedural remarks, the motion carried without opposition.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the grant agreement and coordinate hiring and outreach efforts with the Northshore Health Department and Shorewood. The grant’s terms will be incorporated in future public updates about the lead‑service‑line replacement schedule and community assistance resources.
