An I-Team investigation uncovered many Wauwatosa homeowners singing the back alley blues. Now, it's official. They have no choice but to cover big bills for paving projects they never saw coming.

The homeowners spent weeks calling, campaigning, and, at times, even pleading with Wauwatosa officials to give them a break when improving their alley. Tuesday night, they heard the Common Council's message loud and clear. Like it or not, you'll pay for it.

Just by their faces, you could tell Ed and Gerry Kelnhofer didn't have much hope. They came to Tosa's Council meeting looking at an nearly $8000 city assessment they can't afford.

"I never expected anything close to $8000," said Ed Kelnhofer

It's their surprise-share of the $81,000 dollars-worth of repairs the city wants to make to the alley behind their home.

"I thought it was a mistake," said Ed's wife Geraldine.

It was no mistake. Rather than using taxdollars, Rosa passes on all alley improvement costs, every penny, to homeowners on the alley -- even seniors on fixed incomes.

At first the Kelnhofers thought they might catch a break when 2nd District Alderman Eric Meaux spoke up on the issue.

"Just for those that are listening, and are concerned that their concerns are, perhaps, not being heard, they are being heard.," Meaux promised.

Then, reality came crashing down -- hard.

"I think this a policy that perhaps we want to look at down the road," Meaux said. "I don't think we're going to resolve it tonight."

In the end, the Council signed off on all six alley projects on the list, including the Kelnhofers'.

"They lied to me, because they said I could choose, but I can't choose," sighed Geraldine.

Just last week the Kelnhofers' aldermen gave them and their neighbors this survey. It asked whether they wanted the alley to be done in concrete, somewhat cheaper asphalt, or delay the whole thing until 2013.

However, the document warned that if neighbors chose to push back the project, the city would stop maintaining the alley and may stop picking up garbage or plowing snow there altogether.

"That was a threat." complained a visibly frustrated Ed Kelnhofer. "If you choose to delay, then they're not going to do any of those. We're not going to get any services anymore."

The Council did throw homeowners a small bone. The board voted to allow those with assessments over $5000 to pay it off over 10 years with interest.

"I'm not going to live 10 more years I don't think," 88-year-old Ed said with a chuckle.

But his wife Isn't laughing.

"Well, we'll just have to cut down. I asked them to give me a job. I'll come in [to City Hall] and clean."

Since they have the largest lot, the Kelnhofers' assessment is the highest on their block. Most of her neighbors will wind up paying between $3000 and $5000.

At that Tuesday night Council meeting, a few aldermen suggested the city should take another look at the alley policy. No word yet on when that will happen.

If you want to tell the Wauwatosa aldermen what you think about all this, call the Common Council office at (414) 479-8920.