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Bryant council hears flood relief update |
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Friday, 11 July 2008 |
Many questions answered about efforts to help south side
Many questions were answered about flooding issues in Bryant and about Operation Flood Relief during a City Council meeting Thursday night.
“We want to know what it going on,” resident Joe Smith said. “We are glad you took care of the north side of the city. Now it is time you take care of the south side ... it is the city’s responsibility.”
Bryant residents have a long history of battling with city officials in regard to flooding problems, and in January 2007 the city took steps to find a solution. FTN and Associates, an environmental consulting firm, was hired to conduct a watershed project designed to help identify problems and determine what should be done to improve stormwater drainage in Forest Cove, Sunset Meadows, West Pointe, Springhill Acres, Springhill Manor, Sherwood Estates and Northridge subdivisions. The objective was to identify specific items that can be addressed without causing additional harm to other points in the watershed.
Completion of the study determined that the best way to control flooding in those areas would be to replace the box culverts on the Arkansas 5 bridge near Larry’s Pizza. Bryant Public Works Director Richard Penn said all the other projects in the plan are impacted by this bridge.
In April, the city council approved the hiring of McClelland Consulting Engineers Inc. of Little Rock to prepare the plan and representatives said that once a redesign is completed, it would require approval of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department.
At Thursday’s meeting, McClelland project manager Dan Beranek told the council that the AHTD still has the renderings, which call for moving the utilities from around the Arkansas 5 bridge.
However, major storms on April 3 and 4 caused major flooding issues in the identified neighborhoods and other areas of the city, sparking citizens to speak out during an April 10 council meeting. Mayor Larry Mitchell and City Council members declared an emergency situation and proceeded with the implementation of certain projects in FTN’s plans. Bryant Fire Chief Randy Cox was named the incident commander to oversee Operation Flood Relief and $72,000 was allocated to fund emergency projects.
However, many residents told the council Thursday that they feel that all their efforts in relieving flooding issues are directed toward the north side of the city. They said their homes were severely damaged from floods in April, and on July 4 a short, but heavy rain threatened to flood their homes again.
“On July 4 we had a thunderstorm that lasted for about an hour that almost came into our homes,” Elizabeth Wisdom said. “What will you do during the hurricane season when the rains last for two or three days?”
Another person said he feels that residents in his area along Rodeo Drive, Meadowlake and Waterford Lane are ignored from city officials.
“I repeatedly called city offices ... I am ignored and phone calls are not returned,” Ben West said. “I would like some feedback...We want someone to come out and talk to us. I have lived here for about a year now and this is not the home I plan to retire in now.
“My home is basically worth zero now,” West said. “I’m just being honest, I am not sure if I want to get into another home here, I would like to because I love Bryant...but we respond to the way we have been treated.”
After many other residents spoke out over the flood issues, Cox told the crowd that he is working on the areas of concern they addressed.
“I promise you I am doing everything I can,” Cox said. “Myself and several other people have been out in those areas several times. I am also scheduled to meet with developers on July 23.”
Cox then presented a PowerPoint presentation that outlined specific problems and solutions in those areas of concern, noting which city department is assigned to specific tasks. He also said he plans to have those outlined plans posted at the Bryant Fire Department Web site, www.bryantfirerescue.net.
“July 4th began with a bang, with a severe thunderstorm and rain,” Cox said on the Web site. “In just one hour, over three inches of rain fell in Bryant. This put to test everything that was done to adjust flooding problems in the city. City officials from almost every department were out in force making sure that the quick fixes were holding and homes were not flooding. With over three inches of rain in less than an hour, no homes were flooded in the city.
Cox also told the council that he is out of funding for Operation Flood Relief and requested $140,349 to complete projects on the list for the south side of the city. He also asked for an additional $10,000 as a safeguard in case other problems arise. After much discussion, the council unanimously approved $150,000 to complete the list of projects in Operation Flood Relief, plus any future recommended projects. |
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