Community Park Project Halted by Flood “We Can’T Control Mother Nature,” Says Village Engineer, “We’Re Looking to Mitigate Mother Nature”
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VOL. 3, WK. 38 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 $1.00 Community Park project halted by flood “We can’t control Mother Nature,” says village engineer, “We’re looking to mitigate Mother Nature” Floodwaters cover Community park after heavy rains on Friday, September 13. Black Earth Creek never reached flood stage. Construction vehicles and the office were surrounded by water. PHOTO BY JOE BLOCK by JOE BLOCK drological Prediction Center, at “Well, that’s why we work this going to affect my property again. park and additional costs Editor 5.23 feet there is between a 20 with Town & County Engineer- with water coming towards my A new concession stand will percent and 50 percent chance ing,” said village president Pat house?” be built in the middle of the In September the board Black Earth residents are the creek will reach that level Troge. Coyle replied, “You don’t park, on the northern border. It voted to issue approximately concerned that the $749,000 in any year. Village engineer “We’ve seen the amount know.” will be raised several feet above $925,000 in bonds for fund- Community Park project will Brian Berquist confirmed that of water in that area,” said Troge then called for a vote. the ground, above the 100-year ing, with trustee Coyle oppos- not alleviate yearly flooding. is about a one in five to one in Nickolas Bulbolz, the Town & The project was approved by flood level. The smaller ball- ing. The village is applying for Their concerns became reality 10 year flood interval. County engineer in charge of a 4-3 vote. Village president field will be regraded. During FEMA funds through the Haz- last Friday. Construction on the project the project Troge, trustees Matt Kahl, Josh last August’s floods the infield ard Mitigation Grant Program On Sept. 13, 2.75 inches had begun on Sept. 10. Trustee Coyle then said, Wahl and Troy Esser voted yes, dirt was washed into the out- (HMGP). The grant, if ap- of rain fell over the course of At the August meeting where “You’ve never referred to the James Coyle, Ted Pritchett and field. The path from Park Street proved, will reimburse the vil- six hours. Black Earth Creek the project was approved, sev- floods--the four or five times Tom Parrell voted no. will remain at ground level, lage for 75 percent of the cost. flooded the southeastern por- eral residents spoke out against it floods throughout the year. “We can’t control Mother but will be crowned so water The bonds have a five-year tion of the park, covering the it and expressed flooding con- We’re not doing anything to Nature,” said Berquist. “We’re doesn’t pool. An additional repayment period. At the Au- small baseball diamond. Con- cerns. stop that.” looking to mitigate Mother path, at ground level, will be gust meeting, village adminis- struction equipment stood in Gerald Barsness said, “Every “Where’s all that water going Nature,” at a meeting with the built from the new concession trator Shellie Benish said they the water, and the construction time it rains an inch and half it to go?” asked Coyle. “It’s not Star News on Sept. 16. The en- stand east to the playground would be for ten years. She office was inaccessible. floods. Every time.” just going to just go, flow, tire park lies in the floodplain and pavilion. There will also added, “We have to move ahead Black Earth Creek rose to Mary Scott asked the board through to the creek where it except the northwest ballfield. be additional parking, a new with this project as if there’s 5.23 feet. At that level the creek and engineer, “Have you seen floods over there. You know The existing concession stand scoreboard, and the damaged no FEMA money. We submit is below action stage, which how high the water gets?” this.” was damaged in last August’s outfield fencing will be re- [the application] and hope we itself is 1.7 feet below flood Patty Olson, whose property Scott and Olson said the field flood. It will be repaired and paired. get some money.” According stage. According to the National is adjacent to the park, agreed: has been wet since last summer. used as a storage area, with the to FEMA, “HMGP funding is Weather Service Advanced Hy- “When it floods, it’s all water.” Olson then asked: “Is any of understanding that it may flood Funding for the SEE FLOOD, PAGE 3 Village of Mazo asked to address Sauk City plans on $700,000 Town of Mazo stormwater flooding on Walter Road remodel of village hall NWDSS contribution exceeds amount ence to the drainage basins. by JOE BLOCK Arndt. “For security reasons The water passes through a by KARA O’KEEFFE requested Editor we would isolate the two main culvert under Highway 14 Contributing Writer Flooding of a different areas.” by JOE BLOCK and floods LeVoy’s parking The Sauk City village board sort was a topic of con- The proposed floor plan Editor lot. reviewed a proposed $700,000 versation at the village of is similar to the one that was “Three inches [of rain] remodel of the village hall, and Mazomanie board meeting presented at a previous board Paulette Glunn, ex- in a short period causes 20 denied the Village Pub a special on Sept. 10. James LeVoy, meeting and would allow for ecutive director of inches [of water] in the park- permit to play music outdoors owner of property located at village administrators to stay in ing lot,” said LeVoy. “An until 11 p.m. on Sept. 28. A Northwest Dane Senior 406 Walter Road, asked the their offices during renovation extreme case came during neighbor had complained about Services, incorrectly village to address flooding in by doing the renovation in three frozen conditions [during the the music. Carter Arndt, archi- stated the contributions the parking lot. phases. spring thaw], which caused 6 tect with MSA, talked to board for the village and town The property, located The phases would include to 8 inches of ice,” he said. about the remodel of the village creating the new board room of Mazomanie at the near the northwest corner “It was very expensive [to hall during the September 10 space, lobby space in the mid- Sept. 7 village of Black of Highway 14 and Wal- clean up] on our part.” meeting. dle and then the administration Earth meeting. ter Road, has been flooded “I want to know whose “As a reminder the proposed office space. The corrected con- this year by water draining issue it is, and who needs to overall project is basically to “It would all be sequenced tributionstotals are: from the south. Develop- address it,” LeVoy told the renovate the main area [within to accommodate elections,” ment has increased over the Village of Mazomanie board. the hall] and ultimately divide continued Arndt. past few years to the south was asked for $8300, Director of public works the space into a separate board Some of the changes to the of Highway 14. The housing NWDSS received $500. Mark Geisler explained that room at one end and isolate the plan that Arndt had presented developments do have the re- Town of Mazomanie the industrial area where Village administration office in the past included making the quired drainage basins. was asked for $5450, the property is located was space in the other end and creat- lobby slightly smaller and add- NWDSS received “They don’t hold water,” ing a common lobby space and ing more space for the admin- said James LeVoy, in refer- SEE MAZO, PAGE 9 $5500. restrooms in the middle,” said SEE HALL, PAGE 5 PAGE 2 STAR NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 OBITUARIES ANNIVERSARY Reisinger, Jeanette Masino, fisherwoman, snow skier and service. In lieu of flowers, we Mary “Margaret” Delphine Reeve, 3 brothers, outdoors person. She spent ask that you consider donating Victor, Harland and Reggie many of her years just up the to the American Lung Associa- Fargen Ruhland. A Mass of Christian road, at what was originally tion. Burial will be held on Friday, her grandfathers’ farmhouse As per Sue’s wishes, a cel- September 13, 2019 at 11:00 that ultimately was purchased ebration of her life will be held A.M. at St. John’s Catholic by her beloved brother Ivan in Grand Rapids, MI at a later Church in Spring Green. Fr. Judson, where they spent many date. John Silva will officiate with memorable times as a family. burial in the church cemetery at Sue and her husband Jim Barbara J. a later date. Visitation will be spent their early years in Mich- held on Thursday, September igan raising their family and Dederich 12, 2019 at St. John’s Catholic eventually relocating to Prairie Church from 5:00 P.M.-7:00 du Sac Wisconsin in 1976. She Barbara J. Dederich, age P.M. and again on Friday at the was particularly proud of her 90, passed away September 8, church from 10:00 A.M. until long span of driving a school 2019 at Pine Villa, Prairie du the time of Mass. The family bus beginning in 1969, lasting Sac. She was born June 2, 1929 extends a thank you to Upland nearly 48 years until her retire- in Peoria, IL, the daughter of Mary “Margaret” Fargen age Hills Hospice (especially Pa- ment. Jennings and Jenny (Hickle) 88 of Spring Green was granted tricia) and Meadows Assisted Sue was a hard worker, rais- Harger.