Cudahy council approves special-assessment plan for Packard Avenue sewer lateral replacements after residents raise damage concerns

The Cudahy Common Council on June 28 approved Resolution No. 7049 authorizing replacement of sanitary sewer laterals on Packard Avenue and declaring the City's intent to exercise special-assessment authority under Wisconsin Statute section 66.0703.

DPW Director Lange summarized the Packard Avenue project at a public hearing that began at 7:21 p.m.; several residents who live along or near Packard Avenue told the council they had experienced damages or sought corrective action tied to sewer work and questioned how assessments would be calculated and applied. Those speakers included Joseph Zsebe, Rebecca Hiracheta, Robert Escamalia, Brian Mollberg and Greg Loferski.

Motion to approve Resolution No. 7049 was made by Alderperson Litkowiec and seconded by Alderperson Hollenbeck. The motion included direction to investigate reported property-damage claims related to the project. The roll-call vote carried unanimously.

The resolution references the city's statutory authority under Wis. Stat. a7 66.0703 to levy special assessments for sewer improvements; the council's action formalizes the next steps for design and assessment while leaving open follow-up on individual damage complaints. The City Attorney briefly left the meeting during the hearing and returned after the first public hearing closed.

What happens next: the motion instructs staff to investigate the damage complaints raised during the public hearing; the resolution authorizes the city to proceed with the sanitary-lateral replacement project under the statutory special-assessment process. Residents seeking additional redress or clarification will need to pursue the claims identified during the investigation.