Kendall Village Board considers beaver-dam removal

Concerns that a beaver dam may cause flooding has made the Kendall Village Board look into its removal. (Dave Heilman photo)

By SARAH PARKER | County Line Editor

Fears of possible flooding prompted the Kendall Village Board on Monday to investigate having a beaver dam removed.

But because the dam in question is near the Elroy-Sparta State Trail and Highway 71, it’s partly on property owned by the DOT and partly on a DNR right-of-way. That left the village board wondering if it could legally have the dam removed and the beavers trapped.

Nearby homeowner Dale Haney attended the meeting, advocating for removing the dam. Other residents had requested that it be left intact, noted board president Richard Martin.

In the end, Martin said he would contact a DNR representative to learn the village’s scope of control over the dam structure.

More beaver dams had been constructed in the area since the 2018 flood, noted Public Works Director David Gruen.

Other business

• The board entered into an agreement with MSA Professional Services for final design, bidding and construction administration services for the reconstruction of municipal wellhouse No. 2 during the 2021 construction season. The project will include demolition of the existing wellhouse No. 2 and the adjacent foundation of the former creamery.

The well casing will be raised above flood elevation and the site filled and graded for the construction of a new wellhouse to include a pump room, chemical room, motor control center and emergency power generator.

The new pump discharge piping will be connected to the water system with a new water main connection near the bike trail and in South Railroad Street/Highway 71. 

Project work also includes building andelectrical improvements at wellhouse No. 4 and the demolition and reclamation of the former in-ground reservoir.

A new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system will integrate the new wellhouse No. 2, existing wellhouse No. 4 and the existing elevated storage tank.

The estimated cost is $1.5 million, and funding will be provided by Community Development Block Grant and the DNR Safe Drinking Water Loan program.

• Clearing brush and disposing of old tires, the public works employees are continuing to clean up the former Rumpee property, located at 215 Glendale Road. The village purchased the property from the county earlier this year for $1.

The board considered options such as tearing down the house on the property, putting the lot up for sale, or partnering with the Kendall Housing Corporation to put a new house on the property. No decisions were made, though.

• The process of obtaining FEMA buyouts for the six properties that were flooded in August 2018 still is underway. The village recently received a grant to cover its 12.5 percent of the buyout costs. The remainder will be paid by the state (12.5 percent) and FEMA (75 percent).

• After a public hearing, the board agreed to discontinue a roadway that consists of a portion of Newbury Street south of George Street.

• The board set the caucus for 5:15 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the community hall.

• It appeared that the proposed Santa in the Park event, which had been slated for Saturday, was no longer in the works, as the event organizers did not attend the meeting to give their proposal.

• The board approved an operator’s license for Holly Wilke, who will work at Fireball Lanes.

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