Grace Kirchner Leader Correspondent
The city of Clintonville will be seeking bids to fix its dam, after the Common Council approved a resolution Feb. 13 to move forward with the repair project — hopefully with assistance from the state.
A dam inspection in 2014 by Ayres Associates revealed some areas of the concrete had become soft and unsafe due to previous repairs. Kray Brown, public works director, said at a recent meeting of the Clintonville street committee that repairs are estimated at $471,000.
However, a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources could alleviate some of those costs, according to Sharon Eveland, city administrator. If approved, the DNR grant would pay 50 percent of the dam project, up to $400,000. From $400,000 to $800,000, the grant would pay 25 percent.
Brown said that as of now, he knew of only two other municipalities that are applying for the DNR grant.
The city will advertise for bids March 1 and will open for bids at an April 3 meeting of the street committee. The common council can then accept or deny the bids.
The DNR grant application is due April 30, and the city has until May 22 to decide whether to accept.
Brown said repairs to the dam would start Aug. 1, with operation of the dam gates scheduled to resume Nov. 15.
Eveland added that if additional damage is found and the total repair cost rises, the city would typically be permitted to file a grant amendment.