MONROE — On a day in which international events cast a long shadow over other news of the day, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin came to Monroe on Thursday to talk infrastructure: Specifically lead pipes — and upcoming federal funding to help pay for replacing them in Monroe to the tune of an initial $1.9 million.
But the same morning Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to a statement from the senator joining leaders nationwide in condemning the winds of war suddenly blowing across eastern Europe.
“(Vladimir) Putin has violated international law,” the senator told the gathered municipal officials and a handful of reporters. “I stand with the Ukrainian People.”
Further, Baldwin said she would be in urgent meetings in coming days to advocate for further sanctions and other actions the US can take against the Russian aggression in Ukraine, acting in concert with allies. Putin, she said, “needs to be held accountable for the largest invasion of Europe since World War II.”
As for the lead pipes, they are indeed a serious health issue and Baldwin said she is working to secure funding to replace them in towns big and small across the state. Money will be coming to state and local governments from the mammoth infrastructure bill approved by congress but Baldwin said she has acted to ensure that Monroe gets an initial, nearly $2 million toward replacing the dangerous lead pipes from the upcoming federal budget. But that appropriations bill still awaits final passage.
“It (passage) looks good right now,” she said.
In Monroe alone, there are about 600 lead service lines, said Mike Kennison, water and wastewater supervisor for the city of Monroe. That’s not including other lead joints and smaller pipes running from the many miles of main lines into people’s homes.
The funding comes at a good time, Kennison added, because increasingly municipalities are being urged to a higher standard when it comes to lead.
“The rules are getting more and more stringent,” said Kennison, who was joined at the Baldwin meeting by Al Gerber, Director of Public Works for the City of Monroe and representatives from the civil engineering firm, Fehr-Graham. “The only way to do it (reduce lead exposure) is with additional money.”
Baldwin said she helped carve out the funding for Monroe and other Wisconsin cities with “a vision to allow every community to get rid of its lead pipes within a span of years.”
Exposure to high levels of lead — especially over the long term — may cause anemia, weakness, and kidney and brain damage. Very high lead exposure can cause death.
Baldwin said in addition to the Monroe funding, much smaller communities such as Albany and Monticello will be able to access funds for lead pipe replacement through special USDA programs. With the new funding and urgency around lead pipe replacement, Baldwin also urged young people interested in growing careers in pipefitting to consider learning the trade.
Baldwin also visited Busy Bee Floral in Monroe, a full-service floral and gift shop, who received a $10,000 low-interest loan from the Southwestern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission, funded by the Baldwin-supported CARES Act, to help the small business transition during the pandemic from a floral wedding and event planning business to a flower shop.