City looks for ways to pay for flood damage
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The City of Janesville is trying to figure out where to get the money to continue making repairs of flood damage. High water and current severly damaged a railroad tie retaining wall in Traxler Park in front of the Aqua Jays' bleachers. The erosion undermined the stage and steps which will have to be replaced.
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The bike trail bridge over the Rock River along Jackson St. was damaged on both sides by high water and current. The city is trying to figure out where to get the money to continue making repairs of flood damage.
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This area of shoreline just north of the Racine Street bridge needs to be repaired.
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W.N. Yoss Construction workers Travis Noble and Steve Franks run an asphault paver while Mike Cain runs a steam roller and Matt Yoss rakes while re-surfacing the United Way parking lot on Main St.. The parking lot was severely damaged by high water and current during the flood.
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A trio of dumpsters lines Joseph St. in the Mole & Sadler's subdivision. The city is looking for ways to fund continue making repairs and cleanup from this summer's flooding.
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A pile of large rocks sit at the bottom of a trail in the Arboretum on Tuesday. The materials are being used to fix erosion that occurred during the summer due to heavy rains and flooding.
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Straw covers fresh grass seed along the Monterey Bike Trail west of Washington St.. Flooding this summer washed out areas on the trail around the bridge.
JANESVILLE — A washout on Afton Road.
Erosion at the arboretum.
A flooded elevator at Hedberg Public Library.
Electrical problems in Riverside Park.
Sink holes on Beloit Avenue and Pease Court.
The Janesville City Council earlier this week viewed a list of the damage caused by this summer's flood. Forty-nine projects are included.
Staff estimates that the local share to repair the damage is about $608,900. That is an estimate because FEMA has had turnover in staff and has not supplied the city with its reimbursement number, said Jack Messer, director of public works.
Still, the city must find the money for the repairs and also include an estimated borrowing cost in the 2009 budget. The borrowing will be adjusted in spring.
Messer asked the council to include another $92,000 to cover any unexpected costs. In addition, trees and landscaping costs are not covered by FEMA.
Messer estimates the city will receive $539,375 from the state and $3 million from the federal government. Combined with earlier reimbursements, that pushes the total to $4.24 million.
The administration proposes to find the money for the local share by borrowing $355,000 in 2009 to be repaid by the general fund and getting the rest from the storm water and wastewater funds and from the parkland acquisition fund. The parkland fund is being used to pay for the local share of money to buy the damaged homes that will be razed in the Mole & Sadler's subdivision near Riverside Park. That property will revert to parkland.
Councilman Tom McDonald said he is concerned about borrowing money to fix the flood damage. He was the only council member to vote against the appropriations.
Messer said staff doesn't believe the city has enough money on hand in the 2008 budget to cover the costs given the large snow removal bill from last winter.
The cost also would strain the 2009 operating budget, which must stay under a state cap, said Jay Winzenz, acting city manager.
Below is the list of 49 repair projects.
LIST OF PROBABLE 2008 FLOOD REPAIR PROJECTS
Afton Road washout south of Rockport Road
Monterey Bike Trail washout west of Washington Street
Signal repairs at Beloit Avenue and Delavan Drive intersection
Main and Centerway signal repairs
Beloit Avenue sinkhole repair by catch basin near Dawson Field
Palmer Drive sinkhole repair east of Beloit Avenue
Prospect Avenue street and storm sewer repair Main to Riverside by United Way
Pease Court sinkholes and storm sewer repair at intersection, Main to river wall
Main Street storm sewer repairs: 15 inches on Avon Street Main to River, 48 inches by City Ice Box Main to River, 30 foot by river outlet at 600 N. Main St., and 30 foot at end of Hyatt Street
St. Mary Court Street and storm sewer repair and cleaning
Arbor Ridge culvert
Arboretum erosion
Main/Centerway storm relocation
Monterey outlet structure repair
Monterey stabilize cave
Monterey shoreline repair at inlet structure
Monterey revetment repairs
Shoreline repair at Racine Court (North side of Racine Street Bridge)
Hedberg Public Library repairs, elevator, carpet and shelving
Senior Center elevator repairs
South River Road lift station
Evonik Storm sewer repair
Repair of street and sink hole over storm sewer at intersection of Rockport and River Street extending to the outlet at the Rock River
Oakland Avenue storm sewer repairs
St. Lawrence Avenue storm sewer, clean and evaluate
Racine Street sanitary sewer collapse
Main Street storm sewer replacement by 14 N. Main St.
Rock River Parkway Bridge restoration
Afton Road boat launch repair
Monterey Park
Repair approaches to Jackson Street bike trail, both ends
Kiwanis Pond pier repairs/ storm pipe repair
East River walkway, Centerway south to Milwaukee Street
Washout bike trail below Centerway Dam on West River Bank
River wall inspection and/or repair on west river wall from Racine Street north to Wall Street
Traxler Park
Placement of fill soils
Electrical repair
Culvert head wall repairs and north end, shore riprap, repair of Lagoon revetment
Repair/Replacement of stage and shoreline railroad ties by bleachers
Sidewalk wall and revetment along east side of lagoon
Riverside Park
Wading pool repair/replacement
Placement of fill soils in low areas
Electrical repair at north end of park
Repairs to box culvert at south end of park
Repairs to flooded mound septic system
Repair/replacement of stage and shoreline ties by bleachers (unfunded portion)
Sidewalk wall and revetment along east side of lagoon (unfunded portion)
East river walkway, Centerway south to Milwaukee Street (unfunded portion)
Property acquisition and mitigation program
Oct 16, 2008 at 7:49 a.m.
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farmgirl, I'm still doubting the $500k.
Compromises were made. The charges were true. The compromises were what allowed the felony charges to be avoided.
Stopping prostitution is money well spent.
Oct 15, 2008 at 7:11 p.m.
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The tunnel and museum has not passed in the council but the ball park has for the tune of 1.4 mill. That kind of money could repair a lot damage done by the floods this past summer. The ball club already has a park over the dump grounds. In these times lets keep using them until times get better. It is not that the kids don't have a place to play ball. The kids and young adults don't have a skate and BMX park and you don't see the city dumping 200,000 into that park. So why do we need a new ball park at this time.
Oct 15, 2008 at 6:28 p.m.
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gfan I think it was actually $500K as of the last meemees article I read. And that is ALOT of money that could have been better spent elsewhere in my opinion, instead of the cities vendeta against the Hallenbachs. It seems to me that had the city made compromises with them, then none of this would have taken place to begin with(whether or not actuall illegal activity occured I am not sure)as we all know he only opened meemees to P**s off the city because of the liqurer licence denial.
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For all our sakes the city council had better rethink their decion on spending money on the wants and instead look to paying for it's needs.
Oct 15, 2008 at 6:21 p.m.
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I agree let's put the bike tunnel, childrens museum and the ball diamonds on hold untill we can get the cities necessities taken care of first. If we don't then what good is it going to do to have these WANTS when no one will be able to live here because of being taxed to death, let alone unwilling to drive on bad roads to get here.
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As a parent I stress to my kid that needs come before wants and that sometimes you have to wait to get what you want.
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If a 12 year old can grasp that concept why not the so called educated adults on the city council?
Oct 15, 2008 at 6:07 p.m.
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whocares...., $600k? How'd you come up with that figure?
Oct 15, 2008 at 5:53 p.m.
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Under Obama Janesville will have more problems than paying for this as he implements the spread the wealth program. Right now only $.75 of every dollar sent to the federal government is returned to Janesville. Obama will raise the taxes on small business owner at a minimum of $7500 which will only be recovered by taking from the employee payroll. That money will be sucked like a vacuum right out of Janesville, and of to Mississippi to start with where the poorest of the poor live.
Oct 15, 2008 at 12:03 p.m.
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Id be worried abot getting people working this can wait
Oct 15, 2008 at 11:42 a.m.
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Don't forget the $600k they paid to try and get the halbachs at screemin meemees. That could have bought a lot of carpet!!!
Oct 15, 2008 at 10:53 a.m.
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It sure as heck doesn't take a rocket scientist or engineer to figure this out. The city doesn't need to spend 1.4 million for baseball diamonds, Nor build a tunnel for almost 800,000 or what ever the estimate was. Nor do they need to build a childrens museum! The city can spend that money repairing the damage and using it to keep up with other REAL city problems. I do believe the average taxpayer would be more receptive to this than the former waste of money. I know, Some of you will slam my blog. But it's just my views.
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