Grafton Dam's Fate to go to Referendum

Milwaukee Riverkeeper is advocating for removal of the Bridge St. Dam on the Milwaukee River in Grafton. We believe that removal of the dam would have the greatest positive impacts on river ecology, water quality, sediment management, fish and aquatic life, terrestrial wildlife, and recreation.  In addition, removal of the dam is estimated to save Grafton up to $4 million in dam replacement costs.

The Grafton Village Board was slated to decide on the fate of the dam at a special meeting on November 30th. However, a local group of citizens petitioned for the matter to go to referendum.  The matter will be decided by residents at the polls in April, 2010.

Milwaukee Riverkeeper maintains its stance that the dam should come down and urges residents to vote "NO" on the referendum.  See the attached position paper for more information.

You can also check out the Grafton Dam FAQ sheet and read the exact wording of the resolution that will be voted on next Spring.

[excerpted from the Ozaukee-Press]

The fate of the Bridge Street dam will be decided by Village of Grafton residents when they go to the polls April 6, 2010.

The Village Board on Monday unanimously agreed to hold a binding referendum during the spring general election after receiving a petition signed by more than 2,300 residents who want the dam preserved until at least 2019.

The petition drive, organized by the Save the Dam Association, secured enough signatures to force the vote.

However, after considerable debate, the board also decided to hold an advisory referendum in the same election that will ask residents how the village should pay for costs associated with the removal, repair, replacement or modification of the dam. Residents will be
asked if they want those costs paid through a general tax increase or by using revenue from the village’s downtown tax incremental financing district.

“If there is an expense, we have to figure out how we will pay for it,” Village President Jim Brunnquell said of the need for the advisory vote.

“It’s a question that needs to be answered so the board can have some direction for the future.”

Brunnquell suggested the wording for the advisory referendum after the board heard protests from residents opposing another proposed question that would have asked voters if they want dam costs paid with general taxes, through special assessments to property
owners who live along the dam impoundment area or a combination of both.

A number of residents attending Monday’s special board meeting also objected to the initial advisory referendum proposal because it called for including an estimated cost of as much as $4 million to replace the 91-year-old dam.

That estimate — provided by Bonestroo, an engineering firm working on a Milwaukee River restoration project — has been refuted by association members and others who contend modifying the structure to meet state requirements for 500-year flood design capacity
by 2020 could be done for much less money.

Through the petition effort, the association is seeking to have the dam saved to provide more time to seek other cost alternatives.

[to read the full article visit the Ozaukee-Press]