GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) – Greenville town officials are performing an internal inspection on a recent dredging project.
There are concerns with dredging that has been done on property west of Highway 76, north of Lions Park, that is farmed by Town Board Member Mike Woods.
Town Chairman Jack Anderson says the investigation stems from “significant oversight in township policies and procedures that has led to a need to thoroughly review staff involvement and take appropriate disciplinary actions, if warranted, when full details are known.”
Environmental experts say the piece of land in question contains a karst, a geological feature that forms through the dissolving of soluble rocks.
The karst has the ability to impact well water for nearby properties.
Officials at the county and state level say Woods did not obtain proper permits before dredging the karst, possibly causing irreparable damage.
Once the problem was discovered, Anderson says a temporary erosion control mat was placed.
He notes there is no timetable for removing the mat but claims officials are trying to develop a long-term solution.
In the meantime, Anderson says they are regularly monitoring the mat.
“We’re looking to see if that growth is occurring, making sure that mat is staying in place, whether there are issues with erosion around or underneath that mat.”
While the repair cost is unknown, it is also uncertain who will flip that bill.
At an April town meeting, residents expressed anger with Woods for putting the town in the predicament, as DNR officials are threatening heavy fines if corrective action is not taken.
Woods did not comment on the matter at that gathering.
Residents have also called for Woods to be unseated by either Anderson or the board, which the chairman notes isn’t possible.
“That’s not the case. Those state statutes do not pertain to elected officials but are to appointed officials.”
Anderson believes residents would have to pursue his removal through the circuit courts.
The chairman says the town continues to work with its attorneys to “address the internal town policies and procedural lapses that allowed this to occur.”
