CITY OF RIPON PRESS RELEASE

Date: June 18, 2008
Re: Flooding

(RIPON, WI) – A closer inspection of the city’s Gothic Mill Pond along Scott Street has shown there is no significant damage to the structure. According to City Engineer Travis Drake, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ dam safety engineer also looked at the dam during the overtopping, which occurred on Friday and Saturday, and had no concerns. A voluntary evacuation of the areas downstream was ordered on Friday evening, over concerns about the dam’s stability. That order was lifted on Saturday afternoon.
In addition, the city has inspected our stream crossings and did not see any structural concerns. Fond du Lac County’s bridge inspector came to the same conclusion after doing a drive through this past weekend. While there has been some surface damage to a few streets, most of the work so far has dealt with cleaning sediment off the city streets.
The City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant has suffered the most damage. The basement was flooded for two days submerging motors, control panels, compressors and electrical systems. Crews have been working around the clock to pump water and re-establish treatment procedures. The extent of damage or the cost to repair is not yet known, though early estimates are in the range of $500,000.
“Damage estimates across the city are now approaching $2 million,” said Mayor Aaron Kramer. “We continue to take calls to our hotline (920-748-4916) regarding basement flooding and other water-related damages. We will continue to work with state and county officials in tabulating the damage totals in anticipation of possible assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).”
“As we continue to move forward from this historical flooding event, I think we also need to extend a large thank you to the staff and employees who have been working above and beyond their normal job descriptions the past several days,” noted Mayor Kramer. “From the police department to the public works employees, everyone has shown the team effort and diligence needed to return our city to the way it was prior to the night of June 12th. For that, I, as mayor, and speaking for our citizens, will be forever grateful.”

For more information:
Steve Barg, City Administrator (920-748-4914)
Aaron Kramer, Mayor (920-291-5250)