Everybody involved with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) is used to catching a lot of crap.

No, we're not talking about the stuff they treat at Jones Island. We're talking about another kind of crap -- public criticism, some of it justified -- leveled by environmentalists, politicians and journalists, including this one.

MMSD recently became an issue in the mayoral race. Tom Barrett has put out a white paper, saying how he would monitor MMSD. Barrett also ran a radio spot, criticizing some of the operations of the district.

"We expected it," said MMSD Executive Director Kevin Shafer in a recent interview. "In some ways, we're an easy target."

As one of the few truly regional taxing entities in the metropolitan area, MMSD deals with a lot of public money and is partially responsible for the environmental conditions of more than a couple dozen communities.

The cost of the Deep Tunnel project and a current Northwest Side Relief Sewer project run into the millions. The practice of ``blending'' -- which MMSD says is a necessary and judiciously used method of preventing basement backups, raw sewage overflows and damage to treatment plants - has come under fire from several critics.

Barrett has called for setting higher goals for treatment. He also has vowed to look at how commissioners have been appointed, and how contracts are let.

Shafer's response might surprise you. "We have to work to get better," he said.

But Shafer also wants people to know that the treatment process, and entire system, have improved greatly in recent years - to the point where blending is relatively scarce and major dumping virtually unheard of.

Shafer said he believes some of the criticism goes back to the bitter days of the ``Sewer Wars'' between the suburbs and the city. He said he sees no evidence of that split on his 11-member commission, which has seven members appointed by the mayor of Milwaukee and four by the suburbs.

"I think we have a good commission," said Shafer, while also acknowledging that a new mayor, be it Barrett or Marvin Pratt, could change all seven of the city commissioners and even fire him.

Most of the criticism of commissioners stems from claims that former Mayor John Norquist put some of his political cronies on the commission. Barrett has not said what he specifically would do about the appointees.

Shafer also said that the letting of contracts, which Barrett has questioned, is being monitored closer than ever by the actual commissioners. MMSD rules allow the director to grant contracts up to $100,000, but Shafer said he has cut back considerably on the actual number of contracts he unilaterally grants.

At the same time, Shafer said that a complete changeover in commissioners, and a moratorium on the letting of contracts, could slow MMSD operations to the point where certain projects could not be completed on time. For example, the Northwest project is on target for completion by November 2005.

Barrett, by no means, is the only politician to question MMSD. State Sen. Albert Darling, R-River Hills, has criticized blending, costs of district operations and even talked about legislation to make commissioners elected rather than appointed.

"I meet with Alberta every six months or so. I don't get the feeling she is trying to do anything to harm MMSD," said Shafer, adding that he thinks Darling simply is trying to make sure the district works effectively.

This writer was part of a WisPolitics.com team that recently toured the Northwest project.

We were first struck with the physical enormity of the project, which will provide relief for the main Deep Tunnel during wet periods. Two other projects - the Port Washington Road Tunnel and the Wisconsin Avenue Tunnel - are pending and will eventually provide additional relief.

The tunnels will serve as holding facilities before the wastewater goes to the main Deep Tunnel. That should allow more time for treatment of what is in the main tunnel before it needs to be released.

Shafer said the original Deep Tunnel Project was "overblown" and should never have been billed as a cure-all for the system. However, the tunnel has cut back a great deal on pollution, and once the additional projects are completed, the entire overflow- reduction system should be in good shape by 2010, he added.

This writer could not help but be impressed by Shafer's openness and approach to some very pointed questions posed after the tour. In the past, anybody questioning MMSD operations often faced extreme defensiveness or evasiveness.

Shafer flat out said MMSD does not have the confidence of many members of the public, and had work to do in that area. He also said district officials need to be prepared to work with the new mayor and other officials on a regional approach.

Expect MMSD to still catch plenty of crap in the future. Some of it might still be justified. But it's clear MMSD officials are getting better at dealing with it.

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