Sparta moves forward on water line project for contaminated area

Project will provide water to six homes near Sand Creek Landfill contamination

Construction plans to extend a water line to Idol Avenue in Sparta to six homes that have been affected by groundwater contamination from nearby Sand Creek Landfill. Sparta Common Council members approved to move forward with receiving signatures from the residents to start the bidding process for the project at a July 23 special meeting. B

Attorney Jane Landretti speaks on behalf of the county and its role in remediating the contamination issue at Sand Creek Landfill at a special council meeting July 23.

Photo by Erica Dynes Jackson.

Sparta residents listen to public officials speak about extending an existing water line to Idol Avenue to provide six homes with safe drinking water at a special council meeting held July 23.

Photo by Erica Dynes Jackson.

Posted Monday, August 4, 2025 12:23 pm

Sand Creek Landfill Statement by Monroe County September 2024 - PRESS RELEASE

Clean Water is a Priority

Monroe County is committed to making sure its residents have a long-term clean water supply as soon as possible. The County has been proactive to achieve this goal. A few examples:

•After the County ceased its operation of the interim landfill site in June 1980, it made a bold decision to remove the landfill waste from the site in 2001. The County invested a great deal of resources to haul its landfill waste off site to minimize the potential for contamination.

•From 1980 to 1996, Monroe County periodically sampled a monitoring well near the landfill to check for signs of possible contamination even though the County had ceased its operation of the landfill and the City had been operating at the site.

•In late 1996 when VOCs (volatile organic compounds) were detected in residential wells near the City’s Sand Creek Landfill and the County’s closed interim landfill, Monroe County offered bottled water to affected households in the interim Landfill area of concern.

•Even long after the City had been operating the Sand Creek landfill, when the County learned there may be wells of concern, the County installed more monitoring wells and expanded its site investigation.

•In 2023, Monroe County initiated a contract for a site investigation to be conducted by environmental professionals. This site investigation is intended to ensure that the pollutants and their geographical scope are identified so that current and future locations can be identified. With the geographical area identified the County can ensure clean drinking water for all affected residents. The City later joined in that contract.

•The County and City have shared the costs of providing Culligan whole house water filtration systems and bottled water to the six residents that were utilizing a shared well. In addition, the County has installed an additional whole house water filtration system to a nearby residence to ensure a safe clean water supply.

Cooperation with the City

The City of Sparta and Monroe County entered into historical agreements, including one that contemplated how the parties would pay for operation and maintenance costs of the well water and filtration that would be supplied to certain homes. The County has always paid its share of costs in its agreements with the City.

As we develop infrastructure for a new water supply, we may need to establish new agreements to deal with items that the parties never contemplated as part of the existing water supply. The County expects new agreements may be necessary with any new projects and hopes to continue working collaboratively with the City of Sparta as we progress toward a new water supply.

There are no lawsuits pending in this matter. The County is aware of only a single lawsuit that has been filed in this matter. That was a contribution action initiated by the City against Northern Engraving, Spartek, and Sparta Manufacturing. The County’s review of public records shows the companies settled with the City in 2004 for a combined amount of approximately $2.2 million.

City’s role in water main extensions

The County is committed to doing all it can to provide clean water as quickly as possible. That said, the City of Sparta operates a water utility, so the City is uniquely situated to explore the feasibility of a water main extension as a potential source of clean water. The

County does not operate a water utility. The County supports the City’s efforts to explore the feasibility of a water main extension, but the City primarily controls the timelines for certain steps the City must take. A few examples:

•As a water utility, the City is eligible for DNR drinking water grants that the County would not have access to.

•A water main expansion triggers certain reviews by the Public Service Commission (PSC). As the water utility, the City takes the lead role in any necessary PSC approvals.

•As the water utility, the City would also take the lead role in any negotiations with towns that may be affected by a proposed water main expansion.

By ERICA DYNES JACKSON, Editor

City officials in Sparta have taken the first step toward extending a water line to Idol Avenue, but residents affected by groundwater contamination near the Sand Creek Landfill will likely need to wait longer for a permanent solution to bring safe, clean drinking water to their homes.

During a July 23 special meeting, the Sparta City Council unanimously approved moving forward with the bidding process for the project that would extend the city’s current water line on Idol Avenue to provide city water to the six affected homes in that area. The council added an amendment that will require all residents in the affected area to sign easements before the project can go out to bid.

Attorneys representing both the city and Monroe County, along with engineers from MSA Professional Services, were present at the meeting to share project plans and address residents’ questions. Several county board members and local officials also attended.

According to a press release from September 2024 from the county, Sand Creek Landfill ceased operations in June 1980. From 1980 to 1996, Monroe County periodically sampled a monitoring well near the landfill to check for signs of possible contamination, even though the county had ceased its operation of the landfill and the city had been operating at the site. In 1996, groundwater contaminants were detected in the residential wells near the site. The county removed the landfill waste in 2001 to minimize the potential for contamination. The county installed more monitoring wells and expanded its site investigation, even after the city had begun operating Sand Creek Landfill, according to the release. The county and city entered into agreements following those measures, including one that contemplated how the parties would pay for operation and maintenance costs of the well water and filtration that would be supplied to certain homes, according to the release from the county. Those agreements were signed in the early 2000s, with the city being responsible for everyone north of Idol Avenue while the county is responsible for everyone south of Idol Avenue, according to Todd Fahning, Sparta’s co-city administrator in a July 29 follow up interview.

In 2023, Monroe County initiated a contract for a site investigation to be conducted by environmental professionals “to ensure that the pollutants and their geographical scope are identified so that current and future locations can be identified.” The city later joined in that contract, according to the county in the press release.

On Dec. 12, 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources notified Sparta officials that water from a shared residential well between the county and the city near the site contained elevated contaminant levels, according to state records on the DNR website. The DNR requested providing alternative water sources for affected residents. Since then, city and county officials have distributed bottled water and installed Culligan whole-house filtration systems for the six residents using the shared well. Both the county and the city have split the costs for these temporary solutions, according to the county’s release.

Fahning estimated the cost of installing a new water line could reach $3 million. However, the exact cost won’t be known until bids are submitted.

“We hope that we can continue to work closely with the county to get this solved,” Fahning said.

Project plans

MSA Senior Project Engineer Nick Manke explained the plans for the project, which includes connecting to an existing water main that runs down Highway 27 and connect it north of Idol Avenue. The project will continue to what Manke said is an “outer loop” that will serve residents in the southern part of Idol Avenue. Another connection to the main will be installed to serve residents to the north.

Once the main line is installed, crews will begin placing water meters and interior plumbing for some homes, Manke said.

Idol Avenue will also be reconstructed as part of the project. A minimum 10-foot-wide travel lane will remain open during construction to allow residential access. The road will be repaved with new asphalt and gravel upon completion.

Manke said the city will secure a 30-foot permanent easement for maintaining the new infrastructure. The shared well currently serving the area is slated to be abandoned and sealed, according to Bill Nelson, an attorney with Godfrey & Kahn who is representing the city.

Construction could begin this fall and wrap up by next summer, though the timeline depends on contractor availability, Manke said. Residents will be updated on the schedule once bids are awarded.

Funding options

MSA Vice President Rob Uphoff said the project may qualify for a low-interest loan through the state’s Safe Drinking Water Loan Program, which assists municipalities with water infrastructure improvements. Sparta could be eligible for a 20-year loan at an interest rate of 1.485%, with potential for 20% principal forgiveness. MSA is working with the DNR to submit the necessary documents to access the funding, he said.

Nelson also said the city is developing a plan to compensate water bills for three homes north of Idol Avenue until ownership of the property’s change. Jane Landretti, an attorney with Stafford Rosenbaum in Madison representing Monroe County, said the county is putting a similar plan in motion.

Landretti noted that Wisconsin municipalities have access to financial resources and authority that counties do not.

“Cannot operate utilities,” she said. “That’s why it makes sense to let the city take the lead on this… we also don’t have authority to set the water main location; we also don’t have the certificate of authority from the Public Service Commission.”

She said the shared responsibility between the county and city makes this a unique situation.

“It’s really unusual for a county and city to share responsible party status like this,” she said. “Whatever contribution the county is going to make, it has to come up with some other way that’s different from the city. We are coming from a different situation.”

Landretti said the county will continue working with engineers and the DNR on a long-term plan to remediate the landfill contamination.

“It’s really important to know that the county and city are working together to clean up the existing contamination, more than just providing the water,” she said. “Of course, providing the water is a very important first step, but there is going to be ongoing cleanup that is likely to take years.”