Photo: Crews put the finishing touches on the McDill Dam n October, 2012. (City-Times photo)

By Donnelly Clare

County officials say they’ve been trying to located documents relating to the McDill Dam construction, but have been unable to locate the information they’re after.

“We had general knowledge the dam was not built correctly,” said Lake District President Jack Negaard.

“We knew someone was responsible, we just don’t know who yet.”

Officials from the Wisconsin DNR reported earlier this year the McDill Pond Dam wasn’t built to specifications in 1999, forcing the dam to close two years ago for repairs.

In 2011, the DNR notified Lake District residents the contractor hired to seal the dam used a sand/gravel mix, instead of the concrete grout initially ordered.

“But somebody gave that order,” said County Executive Patty Dreier.

“We’ve been searching for documents relating to whom that individual was.”

Dreier said her office has placed several Freedom of Information Act requests for documentation relating to the dam’s construction with state and county offices, but some of that documentation can’t be located.

“It’s nowhere,” Dreier said, “we’ve looked everywhere; DNR, DOT, P&Z [Planning & Zoning]. No one has it.”

Dreier added her office has performed a “reasonable search,” through the FOIA requests, but given the relative youth of the County Executive office, Dreier has no precedent to model her own actions from.

Homeowners on the lakefront say now that repair plans are in the approval phase with the DNR, they’re looking forward to recouping some financial losses.

“[The Lake District] paid $10,000 for the dam inspection,” said Negaard, adding the costs have continued to rise, to include a potential $220,000 for lakebed clearing prior to refilling the pond.

“We’re going to get this repaired, but later on, if certain groups want to try and recoup their costs and go after each other, so be it.”
The DNR was unavailable for comment at post time.