ARPA funds to help in levee and flood-risk reduction
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City officials are eyeing various engineering design and construction plans to help toward the recertification of the levee and controlling Grafius Run during heavy rain.
The city can use a portion of its $25.4 million in American Rescue Plan funds toward these projects, said Jon Sander, city engineer.
Cross pipe replacement and design and pump station repair and engineering design on Grafius Run -- all related to improvements on the levee as the process to recertify the flood wall that protects at least $4 billion in real estate assets are upcoming proposals for council to review, he said.
The plan proposed by the administration is to see seven of the worst cross pipes on the levee identified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Wood to be replaced at roughly $600,000 in construction cost and $60,000 in design work.
Secondly, the city would like to put a request for proposals out for adding generators and electrical switch gear and motor control centers for three pump stations -- Spring Run, Mill Race and Arch Street, he said.
These pump station repairs will be needed for the station houses to continue to operate as they should during flood events, Sander said.
Among the other levee-flood related ARPA expenditures is Grafius Run.
Sander said he is working on a proposal to get requests for proposals to engineering design firms that might be able to provide conceptual design on ways to reduce the volume in the stream during high water events.
Among the concepts are retention ponds and channeling the water more slowly as it discharges under the ground at Highland Terrace and near Market Street.
Mayor Derek Slaughter said getting the flood risk reduced at Grafius Run remains a priority.
"The negative impacts from the flooding related to Grafius Run have impacted residents for far too long.
"My administration has made this a priority. In doing so, I am thrilled that we are beginning to design and engineer a long overdue solution to resolve the issues related to Grafius Run.
"I am committed to seeing this vital project through to completion."
The projects are to be reviewed by various committees and the full body of City Council.