Gays Mills, Wisconsin, lacks timeline for downtown relocation

Steve Mickelson didn't like what he saw when he looked over the bridge on his way to work in Gays Mills on Monday morning.

"The (Kickapoo River) was full," he said. "If we have a storm this week, we might be in trouble again."

Mickelson is the owner of Mickelson's Market, a meat and produce grocer in the heart of downtown Gays Mills. His store took on 3 inches of water last August when the village flooded and 4 inches during last month's storms. Like many others in the village, he's waiting to find out if or when the downtown will relocate.

The village will discuss its options with planners from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coming weeks. Gays Mills also sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeking assistance.

"The FEMA people are the ones that worked with Greensboro, Kan., a few years ago when the tornado wiped out that town," Village President Larry McCarn said. "They got that turned around in 12 weeks. That might be a little quicker than we'll go, but we'll see."

FEMA officials say 12 weeks might be a generous estimate.

"There's no timeline," said Marquita Hynes, a FEMA public information officer stationed in Wisconsin. "This is long-term recovery planning, and the people understand it's not going to happen overnight. They first have to decide what they want."

Relocation won't move the village far, but it will get Gays Mills out of harm's way. Talk remains centered on either going to an industrial park about one mile north or to the Crawford County fairground to the south.

But wherever the village goes, County Chairman Ron Leys said there's still no word on if it will mean relocating houses or building new. Hynes said FEMA money only will cover some reconstruction costs.

Though no estimates were given on how much relocation would cost or how much Gays Mills will get from FEMA, McCarn said the village will need to seek more money than FEMA can give. But how quickly it might come through and how it might affect when work can proceed remains uncertain.

If Gays Mills or Crawford County needs to find upfront money to guarantee grants or recovery cash, it might mean a longer wait, Leys said.

"We don't have any money, period -- neither the village nor the county," he said. "We still have to figure out how it's all going to work out, but this is beyond the expertise and means we have here."

Leys said waiting likely will make residents more nervous with plenty of summer rain possibilities left this year.

"There is trepidation," Leys said. "I'm sure every time it thunders there, they get a shiver."

Mickelson said the village isn't enveloped in fear, but many would like to know what's going to happen.

"We really can't handle any more rain," he said.

As for moving his business a mile north or south, Mickelson said he really hasn't thought of what it might entail.

"I don't know if it's daunting," he said. "I'm just curious to see what our options are. Some people have said it could happen within 12 weeks, but I don't know. I would hope we could start ASAP."

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