DNR officials and state DOT officials were inspecting the dam and Highway County B in Manawa following flash flooding over the weekend, July 9, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANAWA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Cleanup progress is being made in Manawa following Friday’s rain storm. City officials say all roads have now reopened.
A portion of County Highway B near the rodeo grounds was closed so the state Department of Transportation could inspect the bridge after Friday’s flash flooding and dam breach.
Manawa’s mayor Mike Frazier says the DOT inspectors gave them the green light Tuesday morning to reopen it.
“Very important because that’s one of the exits they use for the car show which starts shortly in Iola, which is 12 miles to the west, and that’s one of the ways they return to the Valley,” Frazier said.
Tuesday brought a lot of activity to the breached dam too. A team from the DNR’s Dam Safety Program was on hand, along with engineers, to examine the dam and its surrounding area.
While the city is responsible for the dam itself, state and federal agencies will advise Manawa officials on how best to proceed. Options could include things like repairing the dam or even retiring it.
But Frazier said those decisions won’t be made for some time.
“We’re actually hoping insurance will cover most of it and then there’s state and federal help, which Governor Evers got ahold of us yesterday and said whatever we need, let them know,” said Frazier about who’s going to pay for the cleanup.
Lindsay Park, according to Frazier, may be closed until this fall. A tour of the park uncovered numerous repairs that need to be made, especially since the park was contaminated with sewage when the wastewater treatment facility was overcome with flood waters.
Frazier said, “We’re going to let nature take its course and let it rain, it should clear up the outfield grass but they’re talking about totally replacing the infield dirt on both the softball and baseball diamonds. And we had planned to do that this summer, anyway, but now might have to dig down deeper to make sure it’s not contaminated and the kids who play on it are safe.”
Manawa seems to be taking care of its own during this time of need.
“Manawa is my hometown and I have a lot of love for the community, so when this happened on Friday I gave a call to City Hall and said, ‘Do you need any help? I’ll be glad to do whatever you need.’ And they said, ‘Sure, come on up and help out at the high school,'” said Bill Kriese.
He was teaming up with other volunteers, manning the dumpsters, set up by the city, for residents to bring items damaged by the flood waters.
“We just got this little truck from our friend. We would have to go over to the processing center to go take everything and I don’t know how many loads that would take us to, and that’s in Waupaca. So, this is awesome, this is great,” said Gisela Montiel about the help.
Since Friday, waters have receded and residents are still cleaning up.
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