Stoughton Whitewater Park Update

On behalf of Attorney Charles “Buck” Sweeney:

Rob Montgomery and I had a conversation with Travis Schroeder from the WDNR on Tuesday, March 4^th.  We discussed at length the various permits. The DNR missed some time dates and it was administratively allow for their last permit because DNR did not respond in a timely fashion.  This was the permit for the stone that was placed into the river below the dam.  It was part of the permits for the walkway along the river and then the crossing underneath the roadway.  This should not have happened, but it has been a very long process. 

The application is still pending on the Chapter 30 dam permits for rip-rapping and dredging.  This is an individual permit.  There will be Public Hearings regarding these permits in the near future.

The dam reconstruction would be a Chapter 31 permit, which is a dam permit.  The miscellaneous structure permit is the boulder structure within the water and that would be an individual permit.  There also has been approved a rip-rap along Mandt Park.

We also discussed the sediment sampling that needs to take place.  This sediment sampling is being done by True North Consultants in the area of the dam.  It is my belief if they do sediment sampling there will be millions of dollars of liability for the City.  There will also be an interesting legal battle on whether the City will be liable for work or the property owner who owns the property underneath the river.  This gets further complicated by the millpond by the dam which will have some different property issues which would need litigation. 

Rob Montgomery stated the City has have piecemealed this permitting over 4 years in order to purposely generate confusion going forward.

The City still has not done an analysis on whether the water will be drawn down, and at what level.  My view it is an incomplete submittal and DNR agreed, so they are looking for further information.  The Remediation Redevelopment Supervisor is Issac Ross, who I will start including in my correspondence.

We also need to deal with the US Army Corps of Engineers.  The current person seems to be a YES person, so we may have to go up the ladder regarding the US Army Corps of Engineers. 

It is a shame the local press and news stations do not cover this travesty of justice that the City of Stoughton is trying to undertake on the Whitewater Park or more appropriately “Greenwater” Park.  Remember…there would have been 3 days of enough water to ultimately use the ‘greenwater’ kayaking. 

Attached is a letter sent to the City’s Attorney Rick Manthe.  I am hoping to get on the Agenda for one of the upcoming Council Meetings.  If I am not allowed to get on their agenda, which is very likely, I plan on attending the City Council Meetings.  This way I can update the Council with what they are doing is completely stupid and an irresponsible spending of taxpayer money. 

The attached letter was sent to the City’s Environmental Attorney on February 21, 2025, and we are still waiting on a response.

Thank you.

Charles V. Sweeney

 Letter that was sent to the City’s Environmental Attorney on February 21, 2025