Council revisits flooding issue

Flooding issues in a city neighborhood produced a lively discussion, during a Sheboygan Falls City Service Committee meeting Tuesday, May 18, at the City Hall Municipal Building.

Dale Wiegert made an appearance to review flooding in the backyard of his property at 120 Boland Parkway.

“I bought my house in June 2005, without knowing what kind of flooding problems I was going to have on my property,” he said. “The previous owner did not inform me of the problem.

“At the beginning of 2006, I started to check out my options in resolving the flooding issue. Four years later, I still don’t have an answer.”

Wiegert said his property is the lowest in a four-acre parcel of land, in the vicinity of Park Street, Rochester Drive, Pine Street and Boland Parkway, resulting in a large water buildup, following significant rain falls.

“I’ve had up to four-and-a-half feet of water in my backyard,” he said. “It takes me 36 hours to pump two feet of water out of my yard. If I didn’t pump it out, it would take two weeks for the water to go away. I think this is a serious safety issue for kids in the neighborhood.”

City Building Assessor-Inspector Ken Sonntag said the drainage tiles in the area are believed to have been destroyed, since the subdivision was built in the 1950s.

After Wiegert brought the issue to the city’s attention in 2008, the council referred the case to its engineering firm.

A report filed by city engineering Terry Johnson in June 2008 provided possible causes for the problem and three alternatives for rectifying the situation.

“The city has contended that I am responsible for all of the water problems, even though I only occupy three quarters of the land in the area,” Wiegert said. “They gave three solutions, but I think I have a better one.”

After Wiegert described his plan to pump the water to a nearby sewer, he asked if the city would be willing to help pay for a portion of the expenses.

“I am willing to do all the labor, but I would like the city to help me out with some equipment needs and $500 to cover the costs,” he said. “I have priced out the PVC pipe and hoses from Home Depot, and it would cost just under $1,000 to purchase the piping.

“I have people in the neighborhood who are willing to pitch in to cover some of the costs, but I still like the city’s help to make it happen.”

Wiegert inquired as to the availability of a trencher and electrical hookup.

“I really need a trencher to put in the underground pipes,” he said. “I’m hoping the city can help me with that. I’ve already put a considerable amount of money into trying to fix the problem.”

He expressed frustration with the delay in resolving the problem.

“I’m trying to sell the house, but no one is touching it because of the water problem,” Wiegert said. “I can’t build on the land as it is now, and it’s not classified as a flood zone. I can’t raise up the land with dirt, because then I will flood out my neighbors. I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Department of Public Works Director Mike Mersberger expressed concern with Wiegert’s plan to fix the problem.

“I’m wondering how you [Wiegert] are going to frost-proof the pipes,” he said. “You need to have good insulation to avoid freeze ups. You [Wiegert] also need a check valve and the ability to maintain the pump on a regular basis.”

Alderman Randy Messner said Wiegert’s plan would need to be submitted to the city’s engineering firm, before the council could make an informed decision on it.

“I think a plan needs to be sketched out for this and brought to Terry Johnson for review,” Messner said. “If we let you [Wiegert] do it on your own, the city is stepping into liability if something goes wrong.

“I don’t believe this is the city’s responsibility in the first place.”

City Services Chairperson Anne Krauter said the city will be thorough in considering Wiegert’s plan.

“We need to focus on the safety, feasibility and viability of this,” she said. “The city has never done anything like this for any other private-property owner.

“If we help you out with this, it could open a big can of worms with all the other property owners in the city. We will only be able to give an answer, after we receive the professional opinion of the city engineer.”

Sonntag said Wiegert would need to submit several details along with his plan.

“We need to have the size and composition of the pumping chamber, as well as the depth of the pipes and the type of insulation that will be used,” he said. “Plans for a check valve must also be included.”

Wiegert informed the committee he has contacted state Sen. Joe Leibham and other government entities about the issue.

“I would like to have the Army Corps of Engineering and the DNR come in and look at the problem,” he said.B

efore adjourning the meeting, Krauter asked Wiegert to submit a detailed plan to City Clerk-Treasurer Joel Tauschek.

“The ball is in your court now,” Krauter said, in directly addressing Wiegert.

The state of the Municipal Building was discussed, during a Property Committee meeting.

Committee Chair Thomas McCue recommended a feasibility study be completed to address future maintenance and space needs.

He expressed the need to replace the previous study, which was conducted in 1995.

“The 1995 study is basically obsolete now,” McCue said. “The validity does not hold up, because so many things have changed.

Tauschek, Fire Chief Chris Wesendorf and Police Chief Steve Riffel spoke about crowding issues in their departments.

“The front counter that we use when citizens come in is very small and short,” Tauschek said. “It allows for no privacy. That area can get very congested.”

“Having Orange Cross come in has been a great thing for us, but it has tightened up space in the fire house,” Wesendorf said. “Now we have our gear racks set up between the trucks, which is a safety concern.”

“We have a lot of storage issues in the police department,” Riffel said. “Bringing prisoners through areas where we are storing certain things is not an ideal situation.

“More room is also needed for lockers, bathroom and interview rooms.”

McCue closed the discussion by stating his intentions to meet with Tauschek, Wesendorf and Riffel to review additional needs and possible solutions to current space limitations.

“The last time the building was remodeled I think the department heads were dissatisfied with what they got,” McCue said. “If we do another remodeling project, I would like to see a higher level of satisfaction.”

During the regular Common Council meeting, Mayor Randy Meyer said Pentecostals of Sheboygan County has asked the city to review its C-2 zoning code to consider the inclusion of churches.

He noted that the matter would be discussed at the next Plan Commission meeting on May 25.

Meyer also announced the city’s Memorial Day Parade will be held Monday, May 31, at 9:30 a.m., with a program to follow at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Building.

The council approved Resolution No. 3 2010-11 in support of upgrading State 23 to a four-lane highway in 2011.

The council approved an ordinance-enforcement motion for Falls Metals owner Pete Butzen.

In city-services business, the council approved the Short Street reconstruction and York Street paving project to by completed by Northeast Asphalt Inc. at a cost of $113,700.90.

School/travel requests were approved for Bruce Wright to attend an engineer and emergency vehicle technician seminar May 19-20 in Neenah at a cost of $339, Steve Riffel to attend an FBI national academy retrainer in Minocqua at a cost of $192 and Aaron Wigen to attend a management of small law enforcement agency seminar in Wisconsin Rapids at a cost of $500.

The council also authorized the publication of the 2010-11 city liquor licenses. The next Sheboygan Falls Common Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1, in the Council Chambers at the City Hall Municipal Building at 6:30 p.m.