Held-Up Department Of Commerce Grant Money OKed For Downtown Beaver Dam Project

Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy says the city will definitely be getting the $3.7 million dollar Department of Commerce grant. Officials received word in June that they will be getting the money to cover the entire cost of the acquisition and demolition of ten downtown buildings. The Department of Commerce called into question the city’s grant application, saying the project began before the money was awarded. The downtown project was spurred by last year’s flooding and immediate action was taken because of concerns that the corner Celestial building would fall into the river. A listener also asked Kennedy why the city didn’t condemn the Fountain Inn tavern, the only one of eleven buildings constructed over the Beaver Dam River that did not accept the city’s buyout offer. Kennedy says the city is not in a position to deal with the private landowner anymore because it’s between the property owner and state Attorney Generals office, the agency that he says is not handling the matter.