River Valley Concerned Citizens


August 8, 2007

Letter to the Editor - Spring Green Flood "Situation"

Dear Editor,

The Spring Green Town Board has posted an August 23rd. Town Board Meeting. The agenda includes a proposal submitted by Jewell Associates Engineers Inc. This proposal lists subjects that the Jewell firm is proposing to accomplish regarding the recent surface flooding.

The Town Board, by presenting and considering this proposal, is circumventing/not accomplishing a report known as the Feasibility Report.

A Feasibility Report is done as the first documentation to public works projects. This report studies a situation and a plan for doing something about it and then determines whether that plan is "feasible"- which means determining whether it is technologically possible and whether it is practical (in terms of current technology, economics, social needs, etc).

The feasibility report answers the question, "Should Plan X be implemented by stating "yes," "no" and most often" maybe." The report also provides the data for the reasoning behind the recommendation.

Expert’s comments, at recent Town public meetings, addressed the almost impossible task of draining surface water that is ground water. These comments are just one reason that the Town Board needs to have a Feasibility Study completed prior to discussing a proposal from an engineering firm.

Government identifies problems and situations. Problems can be solved and corrected, situations cannot be corrected and have to be accepted. How much of the flooding is a problem and how much is a situation?

The Spring Green Township and Village Boards urgently need to define a "storm water district" whereby residents outside of the defined district are not penalized by increased taxes to provide protection for the homes lost or damaged in the flood district.

Your attendance at the August 23rd meeting is encouraged. The time is 9:00 AM at the River Valley small theater.

Regards,

Mike Birr
River Valley Concerned Citizens
Preserving The Quality Of Life
E6060 State Road 60
Spring Green, WI 53588
Phone: 608-588-7844
Web Page:
http://www.highway60.com/rvcc/