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On Friday, November 11, 2005, new revised boundaries for the 100-year flood plain map for Lincoln Creek in the City of Milwaukee were accepted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), meaning that more than 1,500 homes and businesses on the city's northwest side will no longer be required to carry flood insurance.
This significant, positive change for Milwaukee was marked by a special ceremony on Thursday, November 10, 2005 at the Parklawn YMCA, 4340 N. 46th St. The event was hosted by Ald. Wade and included Unity Caucus members Sup. Toni Clark, Ald. Ashanti Hamilton, a representative of state Sen. Lena Taylor and state Rep. Barbara Toles. Also in attendance were Mayor Tom Barrett, a representative of U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, City Engineer Jeff Polenske, and Kevin Shafer-executive director of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District.
M&I Bank Vice President Holly Hartman was also on hand to present refinancing options for residents who are no longer in the flood plain area and who may have problems with their mortgage holders still requiring that they maintain flood insurance on their properties.
Ald. Wade, whose 7th Aldermanic District includes segments of the Lincoln Creek area and the 100-year flood plain area, said the new flood plain map boundaries bring relief to Milwaukeeans who for years have been hit hard by the high cost of flood insurance. "The insurance ranges from $400-$1,400 per year, and that's a major expense for anyone, especially residents on fixed incomes and working class people," said Ald. Wade.
Ald. Wade was able to end the expensive insurance payments requirement by leading the effort to revise the flood plain map boundaries, which included technical remapping work by the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, coordination of flood study information and documents by the city's Department of City Development and an overall review by the state Department of Natural Resources and FEMA. There was also coordination between Milwaukee City Engineer Jeff Polenske and the City of Glendale city planners. The efforts with the City of Glendale were key because the Glendale Common Council had to pass legislation otherwise the whole deal was dead.
"Ald. Wade was persistent about me providing any assistance necessary to ensure that the City of Glendale had everything they needed to move forward on their end of the deal," said Milwaukee City Engineer Jeff Polenske. The efforts were fruitful and the revision of the 100-year flood plain map for Lincoln Creek was final. The requirement of all 7th District homeowners and many 1st, 2nd and 9th District homeowners to pay for flood insurance was finally over.
"Ald. Wade's ability to coordinate several areas of government during this project was inspiring," said Sen. Taylor.
"When Ald. Wade first told me what he wanted to do I was skeptical, but without his efforts, the flood insurance payment requirements for homeowners in the Lincoln Creek area would still be going on. I'm proud of what he has accomplished and it was a pleasure to assist him," said Ald. Hamilton.
Ald. Wade received praise from the mayor for bringing the city, MMSD and the county to the table to make the project happen. "This action, probably more than any other action since I've become mayor, has a tangible outcome," said Mayor Barrett.
"FEMA wouldn't return my phone calls, but when I called Congresswoman Moore and Senator Feingold, FEMA called me back in less than three hours," said Ald. Wade. "That was the beginning of me getting the information I needed to understand what needed to be done. I would like to let the residents of the 7th District
know that you have great representation at every level of government. U.S. Sen. Feingold, U.S. Congresswoman Moore, state Sen. Taylor, state Rep.
Jason Fields, state Rep. Toles and County Sup. Clark were all involved in this effort."
Ald. Wade said he wants to thank, on behalf of the residents of the 7th District, City Engineer Jeff Polenske, Kevin Shafer of the MMSD and the City of Glendale Common Council for their support. "And to the Unity Caucus members-Sup. Clark, Ald. Joe Davis, Rep. Fields, Ald. Hamilton, Congresswoman Moore, Sen. Taylor, Rep. Toles," said Ald. Wade, "Without your support, this couldn't have been done. Remember, "Together We Can!" |