Welsh Road residents air grievances

By Adam Tobias of the Daily Times staff
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 12:49 PM CDT

A large number of frustrated property owners who live near Welsh Road filled the council chambers of the municipal building during Tuesday's Watertown Common Council meeting to voice their displeasure on how the city is handling the flooding problems in their area.

Heritage Court resident Mark Schlatter, who turned in a petition with 159 signatures from citizens who want the city to fix the long-term storm water runoff problems that have existed in the Welsh Road area, said he and his neighbors are tired of being ignored.

“This is a long-term open wound that we need to be healed and not another Band-Aid thrown on,” Schlatter said. “We are tired of being ignored as individuals because individuals have complained for a long time. Individuals are being ignored so we're demanding results as a group and we're going to keep on this as a group and not individuals anymore.”

Many residents at the meeting said the storm water problems are not just limited to the recent flooding in June, but rather it's something they face with nearly every heavy rainfall.

“We have dealt with this horrendous rain like five or six times in the last 10 years, so it's not just a one-time deal,” Schlatter said.

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“This is pretty much every storm we have,” added Joel Bethke, of 1327 Heritage Court. “It's not just this one big one, it's pretty much a regular basis. My kids love to go out there and play in the river that we have in our backyard. I would prefer not to have lakefront property unless I purchase lakefront property.”

Jeri Schlatter, of 1311 Heritage Court, said over the past decade she's had to replace her basement a number of times and has had to throw away important possessions.

“I have had to throw out heirlooms from my grandmother that I will never be able to get back,” Jeri Schlatter said. “I lost family pictures, I lost a sewing room that my husband had built for me and I have taken out more drywall than I ever want to see again. My house is now ruined basically in the basement. We can't go down there because it's constantly wet all the time.

“Forgive me for speaking my mind, but I don't trust you one bit,” she told the council. “You said you fixed it six years ago, but we've had it every year since. I'm just asking please, I would like to live in my house without making it an indoor pool. Just once it would be nice to have a summer that's dry inside my house.”

Mary Klavekoske, of 1315 Heritage Court, said she thinks it's unfair the city has recently raised her taxes without correcting the flooding issues.

“I understand you need to be assessed every so many years, but until you get the water problem solved, I don't think you have any right to ask us for anymore taxes,” Klavekoske said. “It's just not fair.”

Lisa Brauer, of 1322 Colonial Drive, brought up concerns about sink holes in her street and she asked the council to prevent the blasting of dynamite in her area.

“North of us there is dirt and then there's limestone,” Brauer said. “Please don't create more property damage with broken windows, cracked plaster, cracked basements and foundations by blasting.”

At one point in the meeting Mayor Ron Krueger wanted to clear up a rumor and make sure the residents knew they are eligible for flood insurance.

“When anyone says that you are not eligible for flood insurance, I don't know who's telling you that,” Krueger said. “The city of Watertown has done everything that we can do. We are compliant with FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regulations and there is no resident in the city of Watertown, no matter where you live, that you are not eligible for flood insurance.”

However, Jeri Schlatter said the only flood insurance she can get is from the government and added it is extremely expensive.

“We can get flood insurance from the government, but we cannot get it for homeowner insurance,” Jeri Schlatter said. ‘We would have to pay our homeowner insurance, plus all the other insurance, plus an additional $250 a month to get flood insurance. We can't afford that.”

“Right now I'm going under for at least the sixth time and I ain't getting insured anymore unless I buy the fabulous U.S.A. flood insurance,” added Peter Crawford, of 1327 Colonial Drive.

A number of residents who spoke at Tuesday's meeting said the flooding problem has been occurring because the storm water pipes are not large enough to handle all the storm water.

“The storm grades do not take the water and we get 2.5 or 3 feet of water in the middle of an intersection and it happens very regularly,” said William Licht, of 1319 Colonial Drive. “There is a capacity problem. The pipes are not big enough to take all the water.”

“We all must agree by now that we do need more storm sewer capacity,” added Karen Lee, of 1322 Heritage Court. “I have zero confidence that making a holding pond will be good enough.”

After the Welsh Road-area residents explained their hardships to the council, Krueger said the city is going to do its best to fix the problems.

“I just hope you believe us that we do not want to see you have to go through this time after time every time there is a black cloud on the horizon,” Krueger said to the residents in attendance. “I promise you that we will work together to get this fixed. You have my word on that.”

Krueger started making good on that promise as early as Tuesday night when he was the deciding factor in the council denying the final reading of an ordinance creating a planned unit development for Bielinski Homes' Northfield Crossing subdivision on the northwest side of the city.

The 40-acre subdivision, which would be located between the Canadian Pacific railroad and the proposed realignment of Welsh Road, is expected to include about 140 lots for single-family homes.

The council was split on the ordinance by a vote of 4-4, and with the tie, the deciding vote went to the mayor. Krueger voted against the planned unit development.

Bielinski is proposing the subdivision at this time because the city has approached the business in the hope of creating a 2-acre storm water retention pond on the property to help alleviate storm water runoff problems in the Welsh Road area.

“The city is in negotiations with Bielinski to purchase the land for the third detention pond in the area that we need and also in Bielinski's proposed development they will have three detention ponds on that site,” Krueger said.

Some of the aldermen felt by denying the ordinance Bielinski might be less willing to work at a faster pace on the sale of the 2 acres for the retention pond.

“If we say no to this, I just know how long it took to get Farm and Fleet's land,” Alderman Steve Zgonc said. “I have been on office for three years and it has been the same problem. I'm just afraid if we turn it down tonight we are going to be going down that same road again.”

“The reason to do this is to expedite things to get these ponds in place,” added Alderman Brad Blanke. “Look at how long it took to get the Farm and Fleet deal signed. How do we know that it wouldn't be the same way with Bielinski? I'm not saying they should hold us to the fire with this, but this is a way to get the ball rolling that much quicker.”

Alderman Diana Johnson said the ordinance would not give Bielinski the right to build right away and the council would still be able refuse any plotting proposals.

“We are not saying that Bielinski is going to build this subdivision,” she said. “What we are saying is this is the best use for this land in the future. Nothing here is set in stone. This is what they (Bielinski) would like to have. They still have to come back before anything is finalized. This is just a concept plan, this is not set in stone.”

“This is not approval of a building plan,” added Alderman Tony Arnett. “This is approval of zoning. If you vote yes on it tonight and it passes, that does not mean houses will start going up on that property six months from now. No houses are going up on that property until this council has approved a plat, approved a developer's agreement and approved a number of things.”

The council also approved a resolution authorizing city officials to enter an agreement with Advance Construction Inc. in Green Bay for storm sewer improvements to the south phase of Welsh Road. The contract with Advance is for $412,248.

The project calls for the construction of two retaining ponds connected by a culvert on a property near Farm and Fleet that was recently purchased by the city.