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Letter to the Editor: "Look out Freeport. Here comes the water"

Posted: Thu, May 28, 2020 10:25 AM

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Duane Vine of Decorah):
     
"I was visiting with some people in Decorah the other day, and they were telling me about the Luther College Lower Campus Flood Control Project. They were telling me that the purpose of the project is to divert the water during a flood to travel more downstream.  That way, the flood water will not spill over onto their property. I understand that the cost of this project is projected to cost $1.8 million dollars. They claim by doing this, it will lower their insurance premiums.
     
This all got me to thinking, who all will be affected by this project? Directly downstream, they already have "the dike."  It has always been very effective in moving the flood water downstream. So there is no problem there, but all the time, the water is picking up speed.


Once the flood water gets beyond "the dike," it will head right toward Gundersen Clinic and Walmart, then right past where Menards was planning to build their new store. It's a good thing we basically chased them out of that area, even though it was not going to be in a flood plain. It was proven by experts that it was on the "fringe" of the flood plain.

By then, the raging flood water will be going by Wellington Place and opening up into "Downtown Freeport." The people of Freeport have already experienced flood water in the past. And to think what might happen with more water in the future, scares me.  I am thankful I don't live in the Freeport area.

After the Menards ordeal, anytime I hear we are diverting flood water, it makes me wonder why one party can do something like this, but others can't. And Menards wasn't planning on diverting any water. Sorry, I just don't understand.

Just thought the people of Freeport should know."