City and Town of Brookfield Agree to Swap Services

The City and Town of Brookfield have forged a compromise to share sewer and water services at one border, rather than duplicate costly utility work.

It was a rare moment, indeed, as aldermen voted this week to approve an agreement with the Town of Brookfield's Sanitary District No. 4 to swap utility services. 

Over the objections of Ald. Bill Carnell, who predicted it would lead to future conflicts, aldermen agreed to provide city water to seven town properties along Greenfield Avenue near Barker Road in exchange for the town providing sanitary sewer to one city property that needs sewer in order to build a potential 186-unit multifamily residential project.

"If the town doesn't properly maintain these sewers, who do you think is going to get the call?" Carnell asked. "They (the town) aren't cooperative in any way, shape or form.... I think it has nothing but problems in the future."

Ald. Scott Berg said those concerns were discussed at length when the city's Water and Sewer Board reviewed the agreement.

But Berg joined aldermen Chris Blackburn and Rick Owen in saying exchanging existing services rather than building costly duplicative systems made more sense from financial and efficiency standpoints.

Owen said it would be "almost obscene" for the city to install new sewer pipes next to the town's existing pipes under the road. Easements would have to be obtained from other area landowners and the cost would be substantial, he said.

"I think this is the right thing to do," Owen said.

Ald. Dan Sutton said he wanted to make sure that if that residential project is built, any residents who move in there are clearly notified that they will receive water from the city but sewer from the town. 

Under the agreement, that city property will pay for sewer based on the city's sewer rates for equity with other city utility ratepayers. The city will reimburse the town for its sewer service based on the town's sewer rates. 

The city also will directly bill the seven town properties for water, said Tom Grisa, city public works director.

The town's seven properties involved are:

• 1345 W. Barker Road on the northwest corner of the intersection of Barker and Greenfield Avenue (owned by Michael and Sally Alexander);
• 20320 W. Greenfield Ave. (owned by Barkwater LLC) and the adjacent vacant lot owned by M&I Bank;
•  20100 W. Greenfield Ave. (owned by Thomas and Deborah McCarthy);
•  20060 and 19990 W. Greenfield Ave. (owned by Ralph and Carol Hibbard); and
•  19950 W. Greenfield Ave. (owned by Bonnie Pell).

The city's single property involved is located at 1300 S. Barker Road, a 27-acre site currently being used as a parking lot for a construction business.

The property owner, BRP Holdings LLC, plans to seek  approval to build a 186-unit multifamily residential project there, said Grisa and Dan Ertl, city community development director.

Berg said the sewer and water agreement shows "the city is perfectly willing to cooperate with its neighbors" to achieve economies of scale.