City-Times Staff

The Village of Whiting is closing a 3- year old  struggle to let go of the McDill Dam.

Officials from Whiting on Thursday announced a date for the public hearing on transferring ownership of the dam to the McDill Lake District- something Village President Paul Stroik said is long overdue.

“It’s gonna be almost 3 years we’ve been dealing with this, so it’s going to be great,” Stroik said. “It’s been quite the undertaking, quite a learning experience for all entitites involved.”

Stroik said unloading responsibility for the dam was always on his mind, even before being elected to office, and the discovery of a leak in the dam 2011 was the final straw. Village residents, he said, have for years been looking to ease the burden on its small municipal department- and tax base- for the dam’s upkeep.

“We were fortunate enough to have the three municipalities- the city, the county and the Lake District- step up and decide to repair the dam,” he said.

The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 10 AM at the Whiting Village Hall, 3600 Water Street.

Officials from the Wis. Department of Natural Resources will be on hand to hear public comment, and will make a final recommendation on the dam’s transfer about 30 days later.