Common Council votes to replace lead service lines at day cares; taxpayers will foot the bill

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee taxpayers will foot the bill to replace lead service lines running to day care centers in the city under a proposal unanimously approved by the Milwaukee Common Council on Tuesday, May 8.

The measure now goes to Mayor Tom Barrett for his signature.

Under the legislation, the city will pay the full cost to replace the privately-owned portion of the lines. Milwaukee has replaced 150 lead service lines serving child care centers, but city staff had complained that some day care owners had not agreed to allow the city to do the replacements.

It wasn't immediately clear what the city's cost would be.

The Common Council also approved a resolution requiring the Department of City Development to prepare a comprehensive plan to review all lead health hazards in occupied city-owned properties.