City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

Meeting Date: May 6, 2003

Item No.:         14

Recommendation:  That the Common Council approve the Oak Creek Health Department to participate in the DNR-mandated grant process for beach water testing at Bender Park in a consortium with the South Milwaukee Health Department for the duration of the grant.

Background:  The federal government passed the Beach Act several years ago and has recently approved the grant funds.  This mandates that municipalities test beach water of Great Lakes beaches on a routine basis for the presence of E. coli bacteria.  The Board of Health discussed the issue of beach water testing at great length in 2001-2002.  The Board determined that the beach is county property and should be monitored by the county.  The motion by A. Biesek, seconded by L. Monahan, and approved “that we not deal with the testing until we are mandated by the state to do so and that the funding for the testing is provided for with the mandate” was at its March 7, 2002, meeting. The DNR notified health departments in February 2003 of their intent to mandate testing with grant funds for the 2003 beach season.

The South Milwaukee Health Department began testing the beach water at Grant Park last year.  They asked if Oak Creek wished to participate in a consortium to include the testing at Bender Park.  South Milwaukee prepared the basic application (with only a 5-day notice by the DNR) to include both beaches.  The DNR has now approved the application.  Council permission is needed because this is a new program for Oak Creek to participate in.

Fiscal Impact: Receipt of $5,573 to South Milwaukee Health Department as the fiscal agent for the grant.

Prepared by: Deborah L. Schier, RN, MBA Community Public Health Administrator	Respectfully submitted, Robert L. Kufrin City Administrator
Fiscal Review by: Beverly A. Buretta, CMC City Clerk

File name: S:\CLERK\COMMON COUNCIL AGENDAS\WEBSITE COMMON COUNCIL REPORT REVISED 4.Doc

Print Date: 4/14/2003 2:55 PM

Revision No. 6