Number
211203
Version:
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
The Chair
Title
Resolution authorizing a contract for services between the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee to assist residential customers with water and wastewater services arrearages through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes and directs the Milwaukee Water Works to enter into a vendor agreement with the State of Wisconsin-Department of Administration (“State”) to provide financial assistance to qualified residential customers for drinking water and wastewater arrearages through funds that have been provided to the State of Wisconsin through the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (“LIHWAP”) Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan. The State, through its sub-grantee Energy Services Inc., will pre-qualify MWW retail residential household customers and provide a one-time payment directly to Milwaukee Water Works for any arrearage for drinking water and wastewater services that are billed through the City’s Municipal Services bill. Financial assistance will be provided up to $5,000 per eligible household.
Body
Whereas, The Milwaukee Water Works is a self-financing business enterprise of the City of Milwaukee that provides safe and abundant drinking water in the City of Milwaukee and 15 neighboring communities; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Water Works was approached by the State of Wisconsin to contract with the State to apply payments provided to the State through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan to pre-qualified customer households for drinking water and wastewater arrearages; and
Whereas, Under the agreement, the State, through its sub-grantee Energy Services Inc., will pre-qualify eligible customers and provide a one-time payment directly to Milwaukee Water Works for any arrearage, up to $5,000 per eligible household, for drinking water and wastewater services that are billed through the City’s Municipal Services bill.
Whereas, Under the agreement, the Milwaukee Water Works will assist the State and its subcontractors in identifying all current arrearage amounts for customers that have been pre-qualified by the State to receive such payments; and
Whereas, Under the agreement, the Milwaukee Water Works will apply all payments made by the State to the appropriate drinking water and wastewater accounts and will provide reports to the State to confirm such payments were applied to the specified customer accounts; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Milwaukee Water Works is authorized and directed to enter into a Contract for Services similar to the contract attached to this file with the State of Wisconsin-Department of Administration; and, be it
Further Resolved,That this contract will terminate December 31, 2023, or when all funds have been expended by the State for this purpose; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the proper City officials are directed to execute any additional documents and instruments necessary to carry out the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program in partnership with the State.
Requestor
Department of Public Works
Milwaukee Water Works
Drafter
Administration
Karen Dettmer
November 17, 2021