Washington Island residents could be spared a huge jump on their tax bill if First District Rep. Joel Kitchens and Senator Andre Jacque are successful getting $2 million earmarked for costs related to its damaged powerline. Years of ice shoves near the tip of Plum Island were partly to blame for the damage to the cable tasked with bringing power to Washington Island. Generators ran for days after the power went out on June 15th and the cable was eventually replaced at a cost of over $3 million. Total damages were estimated to be approximately $4 million, but despite being declared a disaster by the state it was not enough to trigger funds to be given by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Rep. Kitchens says he hopes funds from the state budget could help defray some of the costs.
According to the Washington Island Electric Cooperative, the town is now powered by the newly installed cable after running tests on it earlier this month. Remaining work on the project will have to wait until the spring.
Click here for the letter from Senator Jacque and Representative Kitchens to Governor Evers
(Picture Courtesy of Washington Island Electric Cooperative)
