MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin lawmakers proposed a bill that would change safety measures around retention ponds.
In July 2012, 5-year-old Jeremiah Conn wandered away from home and drowned in a retention pond in Stoughton. In Jan., 8-year-old Legend Sims and his 6-year-old brother, Antwon Amos Jr., were dropped off at a new bus stop in Sun Prairie, where they wandered onto a frozen pond, fell through and died.
Sen. Melissa Agard (D), Rep. Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison) and Madison Alderwoman Sabrina Madison have come together to formulate a bill requiring some type of safety features around retention ponds.
Madison and Stubbs both have a personal connection to the Sun Prairie family. Stubbs says, she made a promise to the mother of two.
"I promised I will fight in [the Captiol] until something is done," Stubbs said. "I can't control who votes, but I definitely can introduce legislation."
There are three safety options on one of the bills.
- A shallow ledge around the pond.
- Vegetation that is at least two feet high between the pond and any easy point of access.
- Any other Department of Natural Resources approved safety feature.
Lawmakers are hoping to ensure no family has to go through this type of loss again.
"We want any family that is residing in Wisconsin, anywhere across the country, but especially in Wisconsin, we want our kids to be safe," Madison said.
Family members who have lost children to drowing in nearby bodies of water say, it is time for change.
"We never want this type of situation to happen to any kid anymore, from any walk of life," said Andrea Shorter-Amos, Antwon Amos Jr.'s aunt.
This legislation is being expedited through the co-sponsorhip process, with a Feb. 7 deadline - which also would have been Jeremiah Conn's 17th birthday. Conn's aunt, Marlena Burnett, agrees with the legislation and offered her own suggestions.
"It's just very important to have things like this in place, gates, maybe rocks in the actual retention pond to prevent children from drowning," Burnett said.
As far as funding for these safety measures goes, Stubbs was adamant about what really matters to her.
"I would rather invest dollars into a fence than have to invest dollars in a funeral. Why? Fences can be replaced, but not lives," Stubbs said.
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