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Rothschild joins Weston and Schofield on proposed WisDOT detention basin; village’s share estimated at ~$603,000
Summary
The Village Board approved intergovernmental agreements to pursue a standalone WisDOT right‑of‑way wet detention basin to reduce stormwater pollutants. Officials said the basin would reduce Total Suspended Solids and Total Phosphorus but would not by itself meet Wisconsin River TMDL targets; Rothschild’s estimated share after assumed grants is about $602,938.
The Village of Rothschild on Oct. 14 approved intergovernmental agreements with the Village of Weston and the City of Schofield to pursue a proposed WisDOT right‑of‑way wet detention basin intended to capture urban stormwater runoff from portions of all three municipalities.
Public Works Administrator Timothy Vergara told the board the conceptual basin would be located north of STH 29 and east of BUS HWY 51 and would serve watersheds that drain to Lake Wausau and the Wisconsin River. Vergara said the contributing area from Rothschild is about 287.3 acres, roughly 27.8% of the total contributing basin. He said baseline loads equal about 213,800 pounds per year of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and 608.0 pounds per year of Total Phosphorus (TP) for the contributing area.
Vergara said modeling indicates the proposed installation would provide an additional reduction of about 73,455 lb/yr of TSS (34.36%) and 153 lb/yr of TP (25.16%). The modeling projects village‑wide TP reductions of 38.2% for Rothschild, 44.4% for Weston and 13.9% for Schofield. Vergara cautioned that the basin alone would not achieve the Wisconsin River TMDL target of 68.6% TP reduction.
On costs, Vergara reported $138,560 for project design and grant submittal and an estimated $2,857,500 for construction and construction administration. He said the project is conceptually proposed to be offset by assumed state funding: a WDNR Urban Nonpoint (UNPS) 50/50 grant ($150,000) and a WDNR Clean Water Fund Program loan with an assumed 20% principal forgiveness (estimated $541,500). With those assumptions, Rothschild’s proportional financial liability for the construction year (2027) was estimated at $602,938; $38,519.68 was noted as a 2025 funding item in the village’s approved nine‑year capital improvement plan. Vergara and staff discussed funding timing and the potential for different payment plans with Weston.
The board voted to approve the intergovernmental agreements as presented. The City of Schofield has already approved the agreements.
The next steps noted by staff include pursuing grant submittals and finalizing design; construction is conceptually planned for 2027 contingent on successful funding. The board recorded the vote as 7–0.
