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Clintonville pursues disaster funds to fix streets

But repairs could put public works dept. over budget

By Bert Lehman


With the city of Clintonville possibly in line to receive money from the Wisconsin Disaster Fund due to March snowstorms, the public works director asked if the city should continue to pursue the funds.

Kray Brown stated in a memo shared with Clintonville Streets Committee and Clintonville City Council members that the city needed to complete the next step of the process if it wanted to pursue any disaster funds from the state.

“At this time with the current amount projected, we need to make a decision on whether to continue with the funding or find other means of completing the tasks,” Brown stated in the memo.

Brown stated in the memo his maintenance budget for city streets is $80,000, which does not cover the estimated street repair costs.

“We have so many other projects affected by the weather, failures of aged infrastructure and maintenance such as crack filling that needs to be performed,” Brown wrote. “Again, the budgeted amount considering is not enough to perform even the simple maintenance needed.”

Brown stated streets that would be repaired as part of the disaster funding included 15th, East Madison, Lyons, Enterprise, and Waupaca.

“Costs would be in the range of about $70,000,” Brown stated. “Of the $70,000 cost of reimbursement could be around $45,000 with the remainder of local responsibility.”

When the streets committee met on May 2, Brown asked, “Do we want to continue on with this venture?”

“I guess I’m confused of what you’re hoping here,” said Jim Supanich, streets committee chairman.

Brown said he wanted the committee’s approval to continue to pursue disaster funds from the state.

“I don’t know when we are going to receive this money,” Brown said.

He said his budget cannot absorb paying for these repairs, and his accounts will be way over budget if the city completes all the repairs.

Brown added that as of April 25, the city of Clintonville had 60 days to complete all the projects. The city has the right to seek an extension to that deadline.

“It’s going to wipe my budget out completely,” Brown said. “And I don’t know when this money is going to come to us after we get this done, so what I’m looking for is approval to go ahead and to do this venture versus after the fact get my hands slapped for going way over budget to get these projects done.”

Brown reiterated that there is no guarantee that the city will receive the money.

“But what’s the result, if you don’t fix these, are you just going to leave (the streets) unrepaired?” Supanich asked.

Brown said the streets would not remain unrepaired.

“Then we’re going to have to come up with the money some way anyway, right?” Supanich asked.

“In doing so, this will put me over budget,” Brown said. “I’m kind of fearful of this and I just want you guys to be on board with this.”

Brown added that even if the city received the disaster funds, his budget cannot cover the street repair costs that would not be covered by disaster funds.

“Any way you look at it, you can’t leave the roads in that condition, so somehow the repairs have to be done, so I don’t understand why we’re talking about this,” Supanich said.

“I want your approval, I’m going to tell you this straight up,” Brown responded. “I want your approval to go on to this venture. And I’m letting you know, bottom line, I’m going to be over budget.”

Clintonville Mayor Richard Beggs said he was concerned with how the situation is being viewed.

“(Brown) is worried about $27,000. That’s not to worry about. The work has to be done as you just mentioned. I’d be worrying about the $65,000 you’re not going to get if you don’t do this,” Beggs said. “And we’re going to get screwed out of that money if we don’t get this application in. Don’t look at the shortfall, look at getting the rest of it.”

The committee authorized the Public Works Department to proceed with trying to secure state disaster funds and to make the repairs to the impacted streets.

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