Hotel Wage Requirement Likely Illegal, Say County Attorneys

A hotel proposed for Innovation Campus in Wauwatosa is at the center of a political battle that finds Milwaukee County attorneys ­— in this instance, anyway — on the side of the developer.

Business Journal of Milwaukee reported Tuesday that county lawyers believe wage and sick leave minimums the County Board sought to attach to the hotel are probably illegal.

County Supervisor Jim Schmitt, who represents part of Wauwatosa, harshly criticized the move, which requires management of any hotel on County Grounds to pay 125 percent of the federal poverty-level wage for a family of four — amounting to about $12.50 per hour, well above minimum wage. It would also require five paid days of sick leave per year.

The Business Journal obtained the opinion via an open records request. It also reported that County Executive Chris Abele plans to veto the resolution, but request the board still approve the hotel.