The water test required by Stone Brook Hollow Homeowners Association before allowing water to be pumped from Country Bliss through their subdivision, and eventually to Jericho Creek, came back OK, according to Town of Mukwonago Supervisor Fred Leppin.

"We are trying to get the contractor lined up for Monday," he said.

If the contractor begins laying the piping Monday, the town hopes pumping can begin by Friday. 

Town of Mukwonago - At a Special Town Board meeting this evening, Town Chairman Dave Dubey informed residents of Country Bliss subdivision that help was coming soon.

The Stone Brook Hollow Homeowners Association voted to allow water to be pumped from Country Bliss through their subdivision, but only after the Town agreed to their eight conditions, which included taking a water sample before the initiation of the pumping.

Supervisor Fred Leppin said that two samples were taken today and that the results would be in tomorrow.  If the water sample results are satisfactory, Leppin said that the contractor would begin laying the piping as early as Monday; and he hoped to begin pumping water through those pipes by Friday.

Once the Chief learns the results of the tests, we will post them on this site.

Waukesha County - Waukesha County residents affected by severe weather and flooding will have until Tuesday, July 1 to apply for emergency food assistance through the state's FoodShare program.

The amount of food assistance residents may be eligible for depends on family size.

A person who qualifies for benefits will receive a Wisconsin QUEST debit card that can be used at any grocery store that accepts the QUEST card. 

Even a person who would not normally qualify for FoodShare should fill out the simple, two page application to see if they are eligible for emergency food assistance.  Individuals applying for benefits are encouraged to bring materials that can verify their identify and residency, such as a drivers license, state identification card or utility bill.  Applications can be downloaded on line at http://dhfs.wisconsin.gov.  It is recommended that individuals complete the application prior to returning it to county offices at either of these locations:

Elderly, Blind & Disabled Persons: Waukesha County Human Services Center, 500 Riverview Avenue, 3rd Floor, Waukesha, WI 53188 PH: 262-548-7330

Able-Bodied Adults & Families: Workforce Development Center, 892 Main Street, Pewaukee, WI 53072 PH: 262-695-7945

Mukwonago -  At a Special Town Board meeting tonight, the board voted to authorize Town Chairman David Dubey to use up to $125,000 to pump water from Country Bliss through about 3,000 feet of 12-inch piping and into Jericho Creek.

The board further specified that the vote was subject to the following:

1.  That Dubey receive the necessary permission from homeowners for use of piping on private property

2. That no permit was required from the DNR for pumping water into Jericho Creek

3. That the Town Engineer, Sean Sullivan, address the concerns specified by the DNR

4.  That the Town Board review the situation at their July board meeting

According to Supervisor Fred Leppin, there is an estimated 19 million gallons of water sitting in Country Bliss.  The equipment he is obtaining to pump the water out of the subdivision will pump about 1,400,000 gallons of water a day.  No one knows for certain just how long the pumping will need to continue; however Dubey estimated that a reasonable amount of time is two months, which could cost the Town between $122,000 and $123,000.  The board's hope is that 87.5% of the total cost will be reimbursed by FEMA and the state.

The Mukwonago Town Board will meet Friday, June 20 at 6:30 p.m. for a special town board meeting to discuss and act upon the Country Bliss flooding problems.

The Town Hall Meeting Room was filled with concerned residents of the subdivision at Wednesday night's board meeting, who asked the board to consider turning the pumps back on and for help in determining both short and long term solutions to the flooding problem.

The Board is scheduled to report on their Friday meeting with FEMA as well as provide an update on the status of acquiring easements needed should they decide to turn the pumps back on.

City of Pewaukee residents experiencing flood damage should report the damage to Pewaukee City Hall by calling the city’s emergency information line, (262) 691-6015, said City Administrator Tammy LaBorde.

The city will respond to callers and collect flood damage information for FEMA purposes.

The emergency information line provides updates and residents can leave a message with flood damage information.

Damage can also be reported to the city by e-mail at CityHall@pewaukee.wi.us.

Residents can call the city clerk’s office with damage information by calling (262) 691-0770. The city’s Web site, www.cityofpewaukee.us, provides updates and links about flood-related topics.

About 200 flood cleanup kits provided by the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross are available for residents who have experienced flood damage in their homes.

The kits contain a large bucket, mops, sponges and bleach, said La Borde.

The kits can be picked up at the City of Pewaukee Police Department between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. while supplies last.

Town of Summit - Robert Schaf, 68, whose body was found in three to four feet of water along Venice Beach Road Friday night apparently died of a heart attack, according to Captain Karen Ruff.

Ruff said the cause death was determined earlier today.

According to sheriff's deputies, Schaf apparently left Stolley's Hogg Alley restuarant and tavern Friday evening at about 11:30 p.m. and apparently attempted to drive home on the flooded road.

 His  body was later found by friends about fifty feet from his abondoned vehicle, with his unharmed dog inside the car.

Investigators believe the car may have become disabled because of the high water and Schaf tried to walk to safety.

The City of Delafield will reopen the Bleeker Street boat launch this morning now that the water level on Lake Nagawicka has dropped from 16" above normal to 5" above normal. However, the Slow No Wake rule will continue to be in effect until further notice, to protect the shorelines from erosion. Your cooperation in keeping the lake secure is appreciated.

Please check the City Web site at www.cityofdelafield.com or Channel 25 for updates.

City of Delafield - A noon traffic jam at the interchange of Interstate 94 and Highway 83 extended nearly two miles east to near the Highway SS interchange as Sunday motorist discovered the interstate is still closed because of concerns about high water and bridge stability in Jefferson County. 

It appeared that motorist traveling west bound from Milwaukee received no road warning of the interstate closure until they were west of the Highway SS interchange; too late to get off the expressway and use alternate routes before reaching the congested Highway 83 interchange.

Vehicles were sometimes almost bumper to bumper when the traffic was reduced to a near crawl as motorist manuevered into lanes that channeled them onto the expressway exit ramp.

At one point, the traffic jam became more severe because of emergency vehicles tending to an accident near the intersection of the ramp and Highway 83. The accident contributed to additional traffic jams at the nearby intersection of Golf Road and Highway 83.

Since Friday afternoon interstate traffic to Oconomowoc, Madison and other points west has been detoured from Interstate 94 south on Highway 83 ,southwest on Interstate 43, to the Interstate 90 interchange at Beloit, and then north on I-90 to I-94 at Madison.

The interstate was closed at Highway 26 near Johnson Creek earlier in the week and motorist were being detoured to Highway B in Jefferson County.

However, Highway B became impassable because of high water on Friday and state officials decided to shut down the I-94 at Highway 83 in order to provide motorist with a detour to Madison.

Alternative east west routes between Delafield and Madison could not be used because they were also closed as a result of high water and concerns about bridge stability.

Town of Summit - State police are assisting local authorities in maintaining and enforcing barricades on roads closed in the town as a result of flooding and concerns over bridge stability, according to Town Police Officer Mike Sterwald, the town's emergency management director.

Sterwald said the state troopers was assigned to the town barricades after Police Chief James Race asked state officials for help.

Race asked for the help shortly after noon Friday when he was notified by state highway authorities that they intended to shut down west bound Interstate 94 from the Highway 83 interchange in the City of Delafield to Highway 26 in Johnson Creek in Jefferson County.

Race told states officials during a telephone conversation at Town Hall that local law enforcement agencies were stretched to their human resource limits by flooding in the region.

He said motorist were ignoring barricades on flooded roads in the town and suggested that if the state expect their barricades on Interstate 94 to be enforced, the governor should call out the national guard.

Race said later Friday that his request for the National Guard assistance had been denied.

Race estimated that there are several hundred residents of the town whose homes have been flooded; ranging from a few inches in basements in subdivision homes to several feet of water that has surrounded and inundated lake shore homes on the Genesee lakes.

Sterwald said that Highway 67 at the Roundy's warehouse south to Highway 18 is closed because of a high water at the Whitaker Lane bridge over the Bark River.

Highway 18 from Dousman Road west to Utica Road is also closed because of high water and concerns about the stability of bridge also over the Bark River, according to Sterwald.

Delafield Road  east to Waterville Road is also closed because of Bark River flooding, according to Sterwald.

He said that Genesee Lake Road from Dousman Road east to North Genesee Woods Drive has been closed along with North Douglas Road.

The Highway 67 west bound ramp onto Interstate 94 is also closed. West bound Interstate 94 from Highway 83 has been closed since about 4 p.m. Friday, according to state and local officials.

Due to possible flooding, the City of Delafield is asking that you adhere to the Slow No Wake rule on Lake Nagawicka until furhter notice. Your cooperation in keeping the lake secure is appreciated. Please check the City Web site at www.cityofdelafield.com or Channel 25 for updates.

No wake regulations have also been issued for the following lakes: Beaver, Fowler, Keesue, Lac LaBelle, Nagawicka, North, Oconomowoc, Okauchee, Pewaukee and Silver.

Waukesha - Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas officially declared a state of emergency in the county today because of flooding that resulted from large amounts of rainfall beginning June 5. 

"I am asking the public to be respectful of posted road closings and to cooperate with emergency responders during our recovery efforts," Vrakas said. 

Current damage reported to the Emergency Management Office by 18 of the county's 37 municipalities is estimated at nearly $35 million.

Residents can call the county's prerecorded incident hotline at (262) 548-7110 for information on flood safety tips or can access information via the county's website at www.waukeshacounty.gov.