'We're disappointed': Neighbors react to New Berlin oil spill
NEW BERLIN, Wis. (CBS 58) -- We're hearing from neighbors in New Berlin Wednesday who live near the oil spill that wound up in the city's stormwater system.
Neighbors who live next to the stream on Mark Drive say firefighters were there Sunday placing white material on top of the stream and starting the cleaning process.
They say while they've seen small amounts of oil in the stream in the past, they've never seen it like this.
"So this is the same day last year, or actually two years ago," said Nicole Latus, showing pictures on her phone.
She says her family spends a lot of time outside near the area where the spill is.
"They're just having a lot of fun. Spring day, first warm day, playing in the mud," said Latus, showing a picture of her kids.
Which is why when Latus and her family heard from first responders on Sunday about what happened, her family was shocked.
"We're disappointed, especially because it sounds like it could have either been prevented or reported to us before finding out the way we did," said Latus.
The mayor of New Berlin put out a proclamation, saying on March 16, employees at Moorland Auto Repair off Moorland Road were moving a 350-gallon drum of oil that was damaged and leaked on the pavement, eventually making its way down the creek off Mark Drive, into a city stormwater collection pond.
Cheryl Cahill lives up the street from Latus.
"I feel like, you know, you make a mistake. You really need to report that so that it can get cleaned up more quickly," said Cahill. "The fact that it was several days ago, but it wasn't reported, that bothered me."
Cahill says her family just got back from a trip and didn't hear about it until she saw news coverage.
Now she's worried about what this means for her grandkids and family.
"And for us to be able to barbecue back here and play back here, you know, we want it to be the way it's supposed to be," said Cahill.
The city declared a state of emergency to aid with cleanup, and even called for proceedings against whoever caused the spill. Neighbors say they've seen oil in the water in the past.
"Just a sheen, kind of that rainbow-color film," described Latus, adding that said film was worse now.
She says while it could just be run-off from roads, it has them wondering just how long this has been going on, and what the long-term effects might be.
"Now I'm thinking of what else goes through there," said Latus.
On Thursday, the auto shop issued a statement that reads, "Moorland Auto Repair is working closely with local authorities, the DNR and containment crews to remediate the impact of the accidental oil spill as quickly as possible. We apologize to the New Berlin community for the harm caused by this unfortunate incident."