Port Washington breakwater in dire need of repair



PORT WASHINGTON (WITI) -- It's failing and dangerous to be one. But right now, there's no fix in place for the breakwater surrounding Port Washington's harbor.

Every time ice forms and then melts away on the breakwater, the need for a fix grows, according to Mayor Tom Mlada.

It's being breached on a daily basis. And another freeze-thaw cycle, another winter storm season, you just don't have any idea of when exactly you're going to lose these sections that have failed," said Mlada.

Even though repairs are needed now, Mlada says the Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of the structure, is moving at a glacier's pace.

"It could be out there broken for a couple years while the funding's not there," said Mlada.

This past weekend, Mlada was in Washington, D.C. lobbying for funding with the Corps and elected officials. The key, however, is to get on the Corps' fiscal year 2015 project list.

"If you're on the list and that list gets approved you can at least be considered for funding. If you're not on the list you're not even in the discussion for funding," said Mlada.

The Wisconsin Congressional delegation is doing what it can to help. But Mlada isn't stopping there.

"We'll be building a task force and really broaden the scope and really bring in a greater breadth of folks, different county officials and certainly throughout the city," said Mlada.

That means keeping the political current going in the same direction.