City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

 

Meeting Date:  11/15/05

 

Item No.:        

 

Recommendation:  That the Council acknowledge the contributions of Black Bear Beverages, KEI, Inc., Quadgraphics, Allstate Trucking, Schneider International, the Korean Church, the Racine Water and Wastewater Utility, the Franklin Water Utility, and the Oak Creek Water & Sewer Utility to the Hurricane Relief effort, and authorize a reimbursement from the City to the Utility in the amount of $11,960 as the City’s contribution to the cost of supplying water to hurricane-stricken areas.

 

Background: The devastation in the southern states caused by Hurricane Katrina, followed by Hurricanes Rita and Wilma, brought forth an outpouring of supplies from many communities across the country.  With the support of the Council, Mayor Bolender placed numerous calls to FEMA, relief organizations and businesses to determine how best we could help.   Water, one of the most essential needs of all, was needed both right after the storm and as residents returned to the area to try to rebuild.  The Water & Sewer Utility responded immediately when asked to have bottled Claire Baie sent to the affected area; the management and staff of Black Bear Beverages immediately shifted gears to produce the bottled water as quickly as possible.   In a spirit of cooperation, the water utilities of Racine and Franklin contributed funding for production and shipping of 1 ˝ semi-truckloads.

Getting the water to the stricken area took generous efforts of time, vehicles and fiscal contributions:

Kujawa Enterprises, Inc. (KEI)of 824 E. Rawson Ave. was first to respond by taking all the available bottled water we could gather to a church site in Gulfport, MS, as requested by FEMA, immediately after the storm. 

Soon after, Quadgraphics, Inc. of Wisconsin took a second truckload of Claire Baie to the Gulfport area.

Allstate Trucking, Inc. of 6930 S. 6th St. delivered two truckloads to Montgomery, AL, at the request of the Red Cross.

Schneider National Trucking of Milwaukee is now standing by to deliver two truckloads of still-needed water to Hattiesburg, MS.

The Korean Church at 2020 E. Drexel Ave. donated $1,000 to be used toward the cost of providing relief to hurricane victims.

It is appropriate for the City to formally contribute to the effort in conjunction with the others.

 

Fiscal Impact:  Each truckload of bottled water costs approximately $6,480 to produce.  The Utility has fronted the cost so far of approximately $29,808.  After the contributions received, the amount needed will be $12,960 for 2 more truckloads, less $1,000 provided by the Korean Church, for a total City request of $11,960.  This amount would be funded by General Government Account 40-495, Misc. Supplies.  Although the amount will exceed that category budget, we anticipate there will be sufficient funds in the overall General Government category.

 

Prepared by and fiscal Review by:

 

 

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk