City: Water plan by Jan. 12 Talks on purchase with the suburbs would follow with a tight deadline By Ray Barrington News-Chronicle Green Bay has set a January deadline for its plans on whether or not to deal with suburban interests on a water sale. Green Bay Water Commission chairman Tim Nixon told the City Council on Tuesday a timeline on the deal would have the commission report to the council on Jan. 20 about how it plans to proceed. That means that talks on a purchase will take a key step at the Water Commission's Jan. 12 meeting. The city and suburbs, Green Bay Water Utility director Bill Nabek told the council, have reached agreement on most of the technical points, and hope to reach an agreement on a filtration system today. Those items decided, Green Bay would set forward its solutions and study cost options through Jan. 9, then set its plan for the council on Jan. 12. After council approval, the city would go back to the suburbs for talks on sharing resources. "Deadlines inspire people," Nixon said. He said the suburbs had indicated they were facing a Feb. 15 self-imposed deadline to get their water plans in order to reach 2006 deadlines for water quality rules. The city could go with the six-member Central Brown County Water Authority, ex-authority members Ashwaubenon and Hobart, or a combination of some. Nixon emphasized it was up to the suburbs to be ready; if they weren't, Green Bay would continue on its own. - Discussion on changes to the city's garbage pickup plan were delayed by a lengthy discussion of Baird Creek Greenway access. Ald. Gary Kriescher had planned to introduce an amended ordinance that would allow city pickup at buildings with up to six apartments, instead of the four the council voted last month to approve. The ordinance would also change recycling rules to match the six-apartment rule. The city would also provide nonresidential properties the same collection service for a fee if the property is on a regular garbage route. The new ordinance also provides for a hardship clause where outside conditions would hurt the property owner. The discussion was delayed for more than an hour because of an argument over property near Baird Creek. Property owner Nancy Kaster protested the denial of the final plat of a housing development after the city asked for a pedestrian walkway into the parkway under municipal code. She said the walkway was not needed because access from Christa McAuliffe Park was nearby and the walkway without parking in a residential neighborhood would cause problems. City officials said the entry was needed for emergency vehicles as well as neighborhood users, and that the city was trying to get an entry every 1,500 feet along the long trail. But some council members said the move was unfair to the property owner and would cause problems. The council eventually voted to approve the plat without the pathway.