Town Of Peshtigo Electorate Okays Dredging And Leveling

The electorate of the Town of Peshtigo was of the consensus at a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 7, that what was good for the Peshtigo River was also good for both the City of Peshtigo and the Town of Peshtigo.

The special meeting was called to discuss the need for dredging a small section of the Peshtigo River near where the power lines cross the river. This will be done to increase the flow and improve the use of the river and to approve funding if needed. The meeting also discussed altering rock piles located in the Peshtigo River for safety reasons and to approve funding if necessary.

Town Chairman Herman Pottratz briefly introduced the dredging project. He noted that the river is vital to boating, fishing, and tourism and is important to the town, the city and the county. The low water level right, for dam repairs and bridge construction in the City of Peshtigo, is the ideal time to perform the dredging. He added that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has also given their approval to the project. Pottratz then introduced town resident Doug Waelchli, who has been working on putting the project together.

Waelchli introduced himself and explained the area in question. It is a 300 foot by 50 foot section near the west shore of the river right about where the power lines cross. The section, which is right now above the water level, borders on property owned by the Langes and the Barrettes. He said that during normal water levels, the area in discussion begins a “backwater” area that runs along the shoreline, serving ideally as a channel for residents along the shore with boats to access the main channel. Over the years a sand bar and sediment has built up at the opening of the backwater making it difficult for fisherman to get in and boats to get out. He added that by completing the project, there would be a better water flow through the area, improved navigation, and a better fish breeding area.

The backwater area in question, added town residents Eric and Cindy Anderson, in years past has been the growth location of much of the “green slime” that would eventually float down river and cause problems all along the way. The stagnant water in this section would also cause odor problems. The increase water flow brought on by the dredging would eliminate or reduce both problems.

According to Waelchli, it could not be determined if this area had ever been dredged since the dam in town was completed, thus he had no thought on how long it would take for the area to fill back in. The dredging plan would remove about 4 to 5 feet of material. According to the DNR, the sand/silt could not be placed back into the river but would have to be totally removed. The DNR, according to Waelchli, was already in favor of approving the permit.

Town resident Joe Wilke, while stating that he was in favor of the project, asked why the town was being asked to pay for it. His concern, he clarified, was about future requests by other riverfront residents asking the town to pay for dredging efforts.

Town resident Brian Mylener spoke in favor of the project stating the project would probably improve recreation access to a good half-mile section of the river.

Another town resident asked about a past decision many years ago made by the power company to raise the river level by about three inches. He felt that that decision may have caused the problem in the first place. He also asked if dredging this particular section would push more sediment down river towards the city.

When Waelchli got into the cost of the project, he said he had contacted two companies to get a price quote. He said the total cost would come to about $12,000.

Pottratz reiterated that the project is good for all people who use the river, and that both he and Peshtigo Mayor Al Krizenesky have both already committed $500 each from their personal funds toward the project. Pottratz added that it was his understanding that both the Town and the City would contribute toward the cost of proposed dredging in both jurisdictions.

Town resident John Berman asked if a private resident, referring to Waelchli, could solicit bids for a town project.

Pottratz clarified that Waelchli asked for quotes, not bids, and that this meeting was about approving funding, not about letting out or awarding bids. He later said both quotes were from businesses located in the town and he felt this was a special circumstance since time was an issue since WPS planned to start refilling the flowage around the middle of August.

Berman followed by asking Waelchli if he had a written proposal to look at. Waelchli answered that he had both quotes with him. Berman also expressed concern about the town setting a bad precedent for the future by pushing this item through in the non-traditional way.

Town resident Richard Omdahl compared the procedure to this proposal as similar to the way the town could use its money in an emergency. The money would come out of the town’s reserve funds.

Town resident Gary Larsen felt this wasn’t a precedent setting procedure.

After Russ Martin called the question, seconded by Gary Larsen, Chairman Pottratz called for a show of hand in favor, followed by a show of hands against. The vote total was 53 to 1 to authorize spending up to $12,000 on the dredging project.

Pottratz then called on Eric Anderson to explain the project which would alter the rock piles located in the river.

Anderson said the river is the area’s main attraction. When the drawdown occurred two years ago, many area residents were aghast at how close to the surface of the water the piles came. In most affected spots the piles or the protruding wooden cribs were only three to four and half feet below the surface.

The project, Anderson continued, would be to remove nothing from the piles, but trim them down and spread them out. The DNR, he said, felt it would increase fish spawning and feeding areas. It would also improve river use safety tremendously. The piles are located from the bridge in town to the area close to the power lines. The plan is to knock them down and spread them out so that they are about 8 feet below the surface at normal river depth, or about the level of the existing drawn down level.

Anderson said he had spoken to several fish biologists about the effect this could have on the fish population, and that every one of them agreed that a more horizontal rock pile is better than a sharply vertical pile.

Speaking of the historical value of the rock piles, Anderson had many contacts with the State Historical Society and they said the rock piles are not unique to Peshtigo but common in many former “lumber rivers.” The Society also informed him that the piles were put in well after the Peshtigo Fire in 1871. These facts have led the Society to say they had no issue with the piles being lowered.

Anderson also spoke of the need to continue to improve the Peshtigo area to draw people in after the highway bypass diverted about 10,000 vehicles a day around the city.

In connection with the project, Anderson acquired two quotes on the cost.

A resident asked about the particulars of the plan and how it would be accomplished. Anderson said plans are to do it now while the water is low. For areas that cannot be reached from the shore, a small, specialized barge would be used. The mini-barge holds a backhoe type piece of equipment.

Town resident Gary Larsen asked if the plan included removing logs and pieces of wood that were sticking up quite high on some of the piles.

Anderson said the DNR does not allow any wood or rocks to be removed from the river. The plan was to cut the protruding logs/wood and either bury them under the rocks when they are moved, or to just leave them in the river and let the river do what the river does to wood.

Town resident Cindy Anderson added plans are underway to erect a historical replica or representation of the rock piles in one of the Peshtigo Parks.

Peshtigo Chamber of Commerce President Pat Roland said the Chamber is willing to do all it could to promote the beneficial safety results of this project in all of their promotional materials.

A town resident felt the Chamber plan was a good idea since the reaction of the general public to danger lurking beneath the surface after the last draw down saw many people unwilling to use the river and hence went elsewhere.

Town resident Ray Martin asked about selling photos of the river drawdown to help raise money to fund this project too. Roland added the Chamber already has many photos on their website.

Anderson then added that a fund has been set up to receive donations for this project and that any donation would mean less that the town and the city would have to pay.

Waelchli questioned that if the town, knowing the dangers posed by the rock piles, voted to do nothing to level them, would they be placing themselves in a vulnerable liability position should something happen to someone on the river?

Anderson said he had checked into it, but it was very unclear. He said removing the danger would alleviate the potential, and added the DNR has already given their blessing to the project.

The low quote was for $12,000. Pottratz added it was his understanding that the City of Peshtigo was dealing with the same proposals at their meeting happening at the same time and that the two would share the costs of the leveling, minus any donations that came in.

With that information, Joe Wilke made a motion to authorize the town to spend up to $6000 out of reserve funds to fund the project. The motion was seconded by Tom Van Beek.

After some discussion about how the town would handle cost differences between quotes and actual bids and other potential problems, Van Beek rescinded his second in favor or upping the amount to $12,000, the amount of the actual quote. Wilke rescinded his motion, but didn’t want to up the amount for fear that the city of Peshtigo might not see eye-to-eye on sharing the costs.

Richard Omdahl then made a motion to authorize the town to spend up to $12,000 on the rock pile project. After a second by Gary Larsen, the electorate voted 52 in favor with no one opposed. The meeting was then adjourned.

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