Waukesha plans to buy 12.7 acres of Lathers land for shallow wells

Waukesha plans to buy 12.7 acres adjacent to the Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area, allowing it to tap wells into a rich shallow aquifer that’s needed to increase its water supply and reduce radium levels in its existing drinking water.

DNR Real Estate Director Richard Steffes said the state is acquiring 60 acres adjacent to the planned Waukesha wells.

The DNR is asking for approval to spend $360,000 or $6,000 an acre for the property.

If the city pays the same rate, its 12.7 acres would cost a little more than $72,000.

The 12.7 acres has enough space for at least five individual wells, a written report to the board says.

The property is in the Town of  Waukesha, east of Highway I, just north of the marsh. The marsh, established in 1950 is about 4,900 acres that preserves the wildlife and wetlands along the Fox River.

City planners and Fiduciary Real Estate Development Co., a few years back, had proposed using the parcel for residential development. In exchange for development permits, Fiduciary suggested it give property to the city so it could sink needed wells.

The Plan Commission killed the proposal, saying the city could not provide city services to  a residential expansion outside city limits. Fiduciary had wanted the city to annex the parcel that is surrounded by the Town of Waukesha.

The city’s need for fresh water forced it to use the law of  eminent domain to ultimately acquire enough land for wells.

As part of the legal process, a court orders that all of the concerned parties try to first work out a fiscal agreement.

The city and Fiduciary cannot comment because the legal action is still pending, which means that formal fiscal information was not available to the public..

The pending DNR purchase will go before the Natural Resources Board for action on Oct. 21.

The written proposal contains details about the pending city purchase that has drawn complaints and fears from nearby property owners that the new city wells would drain the aquifer and harm nearby residential wells.

The DNR also has secured a long-term option to purchase another 130 acres of property from Fred Lathers LLC  for $773,000 in 2011, the report says.

The city’s 12.7 acres would be open for public use, the report says.