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<br /> <br /> <br />SUCCESS STORIES <br /> <br />Darlington, Wi~~{l/iSf!z <br /> <br />acquire ownership. This is being negotiated as administrative policy demands contamination-free land <br /> <br /> <br />before acquisition, which greatly escalates the cost and hardship. <br /> <br /> <br />UTILITY/INFRASTRUCTURE REPLACEMENT Last but of utmost importance, were the city's fail- <br /> <br /> <br />ing utility systems. Our water system was inadequate both in flow and pressure to serve the business <br /> <br /> <br />park or even guarantee proper fire protection. We had been negotiating for several years with EDA for <br /> <br /> <br />a new south side tower and received a $974,280 grant. To realize the economic advantage, we upgraded <br /> <br /> <br />the entire system at a cost of $2.6 million. It went into operation early in 1995. <br /> <br /> <br />Since the flooding in 1990, our wastewater treatment plant, located in the floodway on an elevated <br /> <br /> <br />moundr has not provided treatment sufficient to allow main extension and we have been under mora- <br /> <br /> <br />torium. A new $5.5 million plant out of the flood way went into operation in the summer of 1996. Rural <br /> <br /> <br />Development (formerly Farmers Home Administration) provided a grant of $2,747,000 and lent us the <br /> <br /> <br />remainder. The old plant will be removed at a cost of $250,000 from the unused contingency in the <br /> <br /> <br />plant project, providing added parkland, lowering the base flood level 6 to 12 inches, and reducing the <br /> <br /> <br />water velocity during flooding. <br /> <br /> <br />This month we also received notice that we are the recipients of a $108,000 grant from the Depart- <br /> <br /> <br />ment of Development's public facility fund. It will be used to install a new lift station on the northwest <br /> <br /> <br />side of the community. This is a problem area during flooding, when many homes occupied primarily <br /> <br /> <br />by the elderly or young families experienced sewage backup in their basements. <br /> <br /> <br />CONCLUSION Darlington has worked continuously and aggressively to mitigate and reduce dam- <br /> <br /> <br />age incurred by businesses and residents during flooding. We want to recognize the agencies, their per- <br /> <br /> <br />sonnel, and those who have worked 50 hard and been sensitive to our needs. This was to be a model <br /> <br /> <br />project so we want it to be a "model of success." So often, regulatory issues look good on paper, but <br /> <br /> <br />in the real world don't accomplish what is intended but merely elevate the cost beyond evaluation or <br /> <br /> <br />expectation. Each project encounters its own challenges and flexibility is imperative. <br /> <br /> <br />Our objective is that through flood mitigation we will be able to change our river's image to a positive <br /> <br /> <br />one, accomplish historic preservation, economic revitalization, contamination remediation, and be a safe, <br /> <br /> <br />prosperous, and viable community for generations to come. Therefore, we have erected signs at the four <br /> <br /> <br />major community entrances, finanoed through a fund drive by the local Chamber of Commerce, stating, <br /> <br /> <br />"Darlington, The Pearl of the Pecatonica" . . . where the river flows and opportunity grows! <br /> <br /> <br />For more information, contact Bev Anderson, City of Darlington, 530 Washington Street, <br /> <br /> <br />Darlington, Wisconsin 53530, (608) 776-4093. <br /> <br />NAmRE BATS LAST: TuLSA'S FLOOD STORY <br />BY ANN PATTON COMMUNITY AFFAIRS MANAGER, CITY OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA <br />It was 3 a.m. The newly elected city commissioner, in office only 19 days, was jarred from fitful sleep by <br />the loud ringing of his bedside phone. <br /> <br />Success Stories 5 <br />