City of Kaukauna Respond to Safety Questions Regarding Retention Ponds

The drowning death of the 12-year-old Kaukauna boy in a retention pond has many people, including the boy’s father calling for more safety measures to be put into place around such ponds. Dylun Tapio drowned on Tuesday after he and his siblings attempted to release a turtle into the pond. John Sundelius, the Kaukauna Director of Public Works and City Engineer said that the lack of fencing is not abnormal around retention ponds, but the ones that do have fencing “usually have some type of increased hazard such as a steep embankment, lack of a safety shelf, or unsafe sediment.” He also pointed out in a statement that while the fencing would detract some people, others would see it as a challenge, and would enter anyway, and rescue would be made more difficult.