Grafton Seeks to Halt Dam Removal Over Cost Concerns

[excerpted from the Journal-Sentinel]

Grafton - The Village Board is asking Ozaukee County officials to reject bids for demolishing the Lime Kiln dam on the Milwaukee River due to higher than expected costs.

Terra Engineering and Construction Corp. of Madison submitted a low bid of $193,369 for demolishing the dam as part of a countywide project to remove barriers to fish passage on the river and its tributaries.

Even the low bid exceeds available grant funding of $135,000 for the dam's demolition so the village would be responsible for paying the remaining costs of $58,369, said David Murphy, village engineer and public works director.

Murphy recommended rejecting all bids received and draining the impoundment behind the dam so that more of the structure and its spillway would be visible. At that time, county and village officials could reconsider how to remove the dam, located south of Falls Road in Lime Kiln Park, Murphy said.

The Village Board approved his recommendation at its regular meeting Monday.

The Ozaukee County Public Works Committee will review the bids at a meeting Thursday.

Last year, the county received $4.7 million in federal stimulus funds to eliminate fish barriers. In addition to demolishing the Lime Kiln dam, the county is building a fish passage around a dam on the border of Mequon and Thiensville and completing design of a fish passage at the Bridge St. dam in Grafton.