MILWAUKEE, Wis. – A “whistleblower hotline” is being designed for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, weeks removed from a former leader accusing the district’s operator of routinely mismanaging two wastewater treatment facilities.
Steve Jacquart, a former MMSD Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator for nearly 20 years, made the accusations April 30 during an event held by Milwaukee-area community advocacy organization Common Ground. Jacquart claimed a decision by MMSD operator Veolia to switch treatment chemicals in 2017 decreased treatment capacity and contributed to more combined sewer overflows during heavy rain events. MMSD officials have said this switch did not cause harm to Lake Michigan.
MMSD Executive Director Kevin Shafer, who previously told WTMJ Jacquart’s comments felt like a “stab in the back”, is directing the creation of the hotline for complaints from current and former employees, according to emails obtained by WTMJ. Shafer wrote he believes this will help build a better case for a third-party audit of Veolia, which MMSD has said it is open to doing if it knows what exactly it is auditing.
“I’m hoping through this hotline that MMSD will be able to determine the accusations against Veolia,” wrote Shafer May 11. ” We will use that information to determine the scope of the performance audit.”
The emails also indicate MMSD wanted to begin an audit last week through a law firm serving as an investigator into claims made against Veolia.
“MMSD is...
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