City will not buy land in flood-prone area
Other measures could be used to alleviate flooding, some aldermen say
New Berlin — ot buy 20 acres of land for nearly $560 in a flood-prone area.
Alderman William Moore suggested buying the land, which is in tax foreclosure. Moore said the land might offer a chance to address stormwater issues. If the land on Observatory Road is found to be unsuitable, it could be sold, Moore suggested.
But other officials said blockages in drainage systems are responsible for the stormwater issues in the area. They said the money would be better spent on getting rid of those blockages. The land also might already be wetland or in a flood plain, Alderman David Ament said.
But Moore disagreed.
"This could be a fantastic purchase for the city," he said. "It's a wonderful opportunity for stormwater retention."
But if that means cutting down the many trees on the property, it would run counter to what New Berlin is all about, Ament said. And he was not persuaded by the possibility that the city could sell the land.
"We're not in the real estate business," Ament said.
Alderman Ken Harenda agreed that the city is not in the habit of buying properties and selling them later.
But what bothered him most was that the foreclosure sale deadline was coming so fast that the city could not study the consequences that could come down the road.
Alderman John Hopkins who sits on the city's Water Resource Management Committee said he is sympathetic to flooding problems, but also favors clearing ditches rather than buying land.
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