Milwaukee County currently has less than six months to meet its deadline to repair or remove the Estabrook Dam as ordered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

After choosing to move forward with a plan that ignores almost all expert and public opinion, that benefits the few at the cost of the many, and that was never officially voted on by all current or past Milwaukee County Board supervisors, Milwaukee County STILL does not have sufficient funds to repair the dam.

The bids for repair have come in and they are all over budget by at least $600,000 and probably more. Milwaukee County is wasting time and taxpayers dollars by refusing to change its policy to removal, all while putting Milwaukee County's public safety as risk.

Removing the Dam:

• will cost $1.7 million, most of which can be paid for through state and federal grants,
• will reduce the public safety risk and meet the WDNR's December 31, 2016 deadline,
• and better the health of the Milwaukee River for ALL Milwaukee County residents.

Enough is enough. Write your Milwaukee County Board and tell them to:

1. Listen to the experts and the Milwaukee County Parks Staff who want a policy change to removal.
2. Support efforts to remove the dam and fight efforts to engage in wasteful spending repairing a dilapidated structure that will need much more investment down the road.