Milwaukee County using $22M in federal stimulus to catch up on deferred maintenance, other projects

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Milwaukee County officials are moving forward with plans to spend nearly $22 million in federal stimulus on renovations to a local community center, improvements to golf courses, testing for lead in water and other projects.

County Executive David Crowley signed into law Wednesday a proposal to use $21.9 million from the American Rescue Plan Act on a series of one-time investments meant to reduce the county’s structural deficit. That deficit, Crowley said in a press release, stems from stagnant revenue-sharing from state government, state-imposed limits on the county’s ability to raise money and increased demand for county services.

“County services – from parks, to transit, to mental health – are relied upon by hundreds of thousands of people each year,” Crowley said in the statement. “Our residents count on us to be able to sustain the services and programs that aim to keep Milwaukee healthy, working, and moving. By signing this legislation today, we help ensure critical services can continue for our community.”

Among the allocations approved by Crowley were:

• $1.5 million for renovating the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Community Center, which offers fitness, recreation and other services to residents of Milwaukee’s near west side. The project will repair the building’s façade and replace doors, windows and a leaky roof;
• $6.4 million to replace irrigation systems at four county golf courses and install cart paths at two county courses;
• $2.7 million to turn two underused and difficult-to-maintain parkways into biking and walking paths;
• $1.5 million to replace boilers in five county parks buildings;
• $3 million to replace lights in various county parks with energy-efficient lighting;
• $125,000 to study the likely benefits of installing solar panels atop the Milwaukee County Department of Transportation’s building;
• $275,000 to install remote control and automated systems in county park buildings;
• And $227,260 to test for lead in drinking water in county buildings.

Many of these projects were identified by a “Fiscal Health Challenge” study conducted by the county’s office of strategy, budget and performance. Others were chosen to allow the county to catch up on deferred maintenance.