Speaker, Ponto tackle flooding questions
Opinions differ on city inspections of private property
March 2, 2010 | 0 comments
Torrential rains that pounded Brookfield in June 2008 and June 2009 caused millions of dollars of damage to homes and businesses. They also sparked a citywide effort to educate homeowners about how the city's water systems work and what homeowners can do to mitigate the risk of flooding or sanitary sewer backups.
Brookfield-Elm Grove NOW asked Mayor Jeff Speaker and Alderman Steve Ponto, the candidates seeking the mayoral office in the April 6 election, to weigh in on the issue in their own words. Each candidate was given 100 words to respond to a series of questions about flooding issues in Brookfield.
Inspecting private property
Q. Should the city look at a program where it could identify problems, such as illegal sump pump hook-ups or blocked laterals, on private property that are contributing to flooding and sewer backups?
Ponto: If residents request, the city should help identify problems with the private side of the infrastructure (i.e., incorrect hook-ups, blocked or broken laterals) that are contributing to flooding and sewer backups. The advantage is that, in order to fix the total system, you need to look at both the public and private parts of the system. The disadvantage is that some residents may have privacy concerns - however, this is overcome by encouraging participation but making it voluntary. The city has applied for federal funds for a pilot program to help correct problems which are identified on the private side.
Speaker: Good question! You have two separate beliefs at work here: My house is my castle (and) government should stay out vs. if it helps my house from flooding, you should do it. I believe we should do what we can on the public side and educate the private side as to what can be done and hope that homeowners do the right thing. A lot of our flooding issues could be contributed to power outages (which add to overwhelming the stormwater system), which we have been working on with We Energies to help make their system as reliable as possible.
Past performance
Q. Has the city done an adequate job of dealing with flooding issues over the last 10 years? Would you continue a similar approach?
Ponto: Yes. I was elected an alderman in April 1998 - shortly after the major flood of 1997 and shortly before the major flood of 1998. Mayor Kathryn Bloomberg asked me and other new aldermen to serve on a flood task force to study the problem and make recommendations. I did, and I have supported every flood abatement measure before the Common Council since then. Over the last 12 years, we have been retrofitting parts of the city to reduce the likelihood of flooding. I believe we should continue with these flood abatement efforts, and I will do so if elected.
Speaker: Yes. The city has made progress on flooding issues in the last 10 years, and the money spent has been well spent. I have and will continue the same approach we have, which balances projects and improvements against our debt and the impact on our taxes.
Paying for improvements
Q. Currently, the city spends a little less than $1.5 million on stormwater work and about $2.5 million to $3 million on water mains, wells, etc. every year (according to the capital improvement budget). Should the city spend more money to address public infrastructure in areas that have had frequent floods or sanitary sewer backups?
Ponto: In addition to the capital expenditures noted in the question, the city spends approximately $1 million per year to maintain culverts, ditches and the associated landscaping work. The current level of capital improvements and maintenance spending is appropriate. This level is about what our current city staff can handle effectively. We should focus our efforts on the severe problem areas. Anyone experiencing problems should contact the city. I know how devastating water and sewer problems can be for residents and am committed to alleviating these problems through both city-funded improvements and an active information program by our knowledgeable city staff.
Speaker: The numbers you are using are not completely accurate. While the numbers are from our capital improvement budget, that is not the only money budgeted for stormwater work. Stormwater work is constant, and we have put approximately $755,000 in our operating budget for sewer repair and rehabilitation. In coming years, including 2010, we have $700,000 budgeted to address stormwater issues. Remember that our water system is only 70 percent built out and our stormwater system is (completely) built out. To compare the two is hard to do, as they are not at the same level of being completed.
→ Marcello throws support to Ponto. Page 3
→ Candidates answer readers' questions. Page 3
→ Preview of District 1 race. Page 3
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