Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund

If you did not see the story yet then WALB ,go to www.walb.com click on News, Go to the Search Line (top right corner) and type in Wisconsin, click Go and then you should see the "Volunteers Assist in Miss" click on that story.

Please click on the following link to see the story that was broadcast on WBAY covering Clintonville's assistance in the Mississippi relief effort.
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=3918496

Every city in the USA is trying to find a way to help the suffering people in the South begin recovery from Hurricane Katrina. Some are gathering money, others clothing, others shelter, and so on. We need to do our part.

The Common Council has authorized a volunteer crew of six men to proceed to Gulfport, MS to work with the Public Works Department of that City, and help with clean up. We expect them to be there for two weeks. The team will be under the leadership of Mike McCord, our Public Works Manager, and is very experienced and multi-talented. They will take with them the sewer vactor truck, the street sweeper, and a utility pickup towing a trailer full of power tools, food, water, sleeping bags, and other supplies.

From Left to Right Dan Etheridge, Mike McCord, Jon Clark,
Jim Beggs, Darrell Teall and Steve Yager

We have worked directly with the administration in Gulfport to assure there is a need for our help, and that when our crew gets there, it will go directly to work. I expect our crew will put in long, hard days, and will make us all very proud of what we, as a community, have been able to do.

Given the extremely tight fiscal environment we are experiencing, a condition of Council approval was that the cost of the assistance effort be paid for by public donations, rather than from city taxes. There will be no cost for food and lodging as the crew will sleep and eat in emergency shelters. However, the cost of fuel for the trip down and back, and while working on site, as well as all salaries for two weeks, will be covered by donations. I estimate the total cost to be about $18,000.

I encourage everyone to dig in, and give to the charity of their choice, and many of our citizens have already done so. I also ask that you consider making a sizeable donation in support of this "city to city" assistance effort. Several very generous donors have already come forward, and we have in cash and pledges about $31,000.

Checks should be made out to the "City of Clintonville", and marked for hurricane assistance team.

Please note that donations made to the city for this purpose may qualify as a tax deduction.

Time is of the essence! The crew will leave Monday, September 19, just a few days from now. If you can help, would you please call City Hall at the above number, and indicate how you can help. That information will be of vital importance in planning this most important and worthwhile effort. If you have any questions please call Lisa Kotter, City Administrator.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this opportunity.

Richard K. Beggs
Mayor