When Milwaukee police started saturation patrols to crack down on drug dealing, concerns were raised as to how the city could afford to pay for it, both in manpower and in dollars and cents. With more than 200 vacancies on the approved payroll, saturation patrols can lead to serious overtime, which leads to substantial costs for such high-profile headline programs such as the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.

In 2007, the effort received two headlines of note, seizing 37 pounds of pot at a North Side house and busting 12 people who were reportedly running 60 pounds of coke a month into our fair city.

Maybe there's a connection to the high-profile activity of the task force, but in 2008 it appears the city is ready to ante up for the effort -- with a little help from the feds.

A measure considered this week by a Common Council committee would have the city chip in $968,858 and the feds put up $944,326 for the 2008 season. The feds' portion of the $1,913,184 program would come in the form of four grants.

Elm Grove Still Thirsts: Milwaukee may sell its water to Elm Grove as part of its expanded marketing opportunities. The Village of Elm Grove is stalled in its talks with Wauwatosa in terms of buying water and has approached Milwaukee, perhaps to gain leverage with 'Tosa.

Wauwatosa gets its water from Milwaukee's Water Works, but Wauwatosa is also licensed wholesaler and can sell its water to whomever, as long as it plays by the rules. Sounds like a bidding war is about to take place.

For that to happen, the Milwaukee Common Council needs to tell the Water Works to put together a feasibility study so city elders can decide if they want to scoop up on the 'Tosa bid.

Elm Grove has been talking with "'Tosa since before 2006 and at one time during the talks, tossed out the idea that Elm Grove build its own water plant to pump lake water west, even pitching it as a way to get Brookfield as a customer. In 1990, residents rejected the idea of an independent water works and instead wanted to pitch Milwaukee for their water.

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