City, village seek $1 million to repair pipe
By Andy Steinke, Dells Events
The city of Wisconsin Dells and village of Lake Delton are each seeking a $500,000 grant from the state to repair a pipe from the jointly owned sewage treatment plant and to dredge the river.
Charles Sulik, of MSA Professional Services, told the Wisconsin Dells Council Monday that $1.7 million is needed to repair the pipe from which treated water flows from the plant into the river and to remove the sand that accumulated around it after the Lake Delton breech in June. Sulik said each municipality needed to apply for a $500,000 grant for the work from the state Department of Commerce's Community Development Block Grant-Emergency Assistance Program. The state receives about $30 million a year for the program from the federal government.
Sulik said if the grants are approved, bidding on the project could start in early 2009 and work would be done during the spring and summer.
MSA engineer Dan Greve told the Wisconsin Dells-Lake Delton Sewerage Commission Nov. 10 that he has submitted forms to FEMA to request funds for the repair costs of the outfall pipe near the Highway A breach.
The pipe was 200 feet long and terminated in the middle of the river where the treated effluent could mix with the river water, Greve said. The pipe is now about 90 feet long but it is still emitting treated water from the plant.
Greve said they aren't sure where the rest of the pipe went after it broke.
The concern now is that stirred up sediment may clog the shortened pipe, which would cause a water backup in the system.
Greve said the pipe should be extended back to where it was before, but dredging is needed to make that happen.
The sand that washed out from the new horseshoe-shaped bay between Highway A and the river needs to be dredged so the pipe can sit properly.
About 40,000 to 45,000 cubic yards of sand would need to be removed, Greve said. Previously, the pipe was 20 feet under the water, but after the sand washed into the river, it is now only seven feet below the surface.
MSA is asking to put the sand back where it came from, the area between the highway and the river.
Greve said they would also like to remove another 135,000 cubic yards of sediment.
He said FEMA's philosophy so far has been to just cover the pipe with sand, but he said the sand would probably just wash away.
He said there is nothing they can do with the project until next spring, but said the pipe continues to be a visual eyesore and a danger to navigators.
In other business, the commission did the following:
- Approved a 2009 budget of $965,958. This year's budget was $885,632. The $80,326 difference is due largely in part to a $56,000 increase in replacement costs.
- Approved a request from Jake's Sani-Serv to dispose of septic and holding tank waste at the treatment plant during the winter season. Wastewater treatment plant Supervisor Les Grant said it is something the company does every year.
- Kay James contributed to this story.