MILWAUKEE — Federal officials want changes to Milwaukee’s efforts to tackle the city’s lead problem. A letter from the health operations administrator for the City of Milwaukee to the Milwaukee Common Council indicates the Milwaukee Health Department received a high-risk designation — and has been issued a stop work order on any HUD (US Department of Housing and Urban Development)-funded lead abatement projects — work funded by the federal “Lead Hazard Reduction Grant.”
The announcement comes after HUD officials conducted an on-site visit on Feb. 7 and 8 to review all Milwaukee Health Department HUD-funded project files. The review, according to the email, found many of the same issues identified in a recently-released report — including concerns over overall grant performance, program management and documentation.
The letter comes after problems were uncovered within the city’s childhood lead prevention program.
Mayor Tom Barrett and the health department say this move is not unexpected and they actually invited HUD to visit the program last week.
“They [HUD] had some concerns about the scope of the work that we’re doing,” Mayor Barrett said. “Our practice had been to focus on windows primarily; they want us to focus on a larger area. And I’m very comfortable with that, and I indicated to them I’m comfortable with what their suggestions are.”
This week a coalition of organizations held a demonstration at City Hall calling on Mayor Barrett to prepare a comprehensive strategic plan designed to remove lead water services lines.
The groups rallied calling on all organizations to come together to build a network of advocate groups aiming to remove lead from the environment.
