MFalls council gets flood-repair update
Assistant City Manager Ralph Hendricks said many projects remain from the June 2007 flood, which dumped more than 18 inches of rain on Marble Falls and the surrounding area.
The deluge damaged more than 100 homes and businesses and seriously damaged the city’s infrastructure, Hendricks said. Damages were estimated in the millions of dollars.
The planned lake lowering will give public-works crews access to damaged areas that have so far gone unrepaired, he added.
“We have some things that are fixing to start happening as far as the flood recovery,” Hendricks told the council. “The lowering of the lake is scheduled for mid-January, and that will enable us to complete some flood repairs in our parks.”
Those repairs include the restoration of the volleyball courts in Johnson Park, which were destroyed by the torrent of water from nearby Backbone Creek. Other scheduled projects include the repair of retaining walls in Falls Creek Park and Kamper’s Korner, along with the repair of the boat dock in Johnson Parks.
Parks and Recreation Director Robert Moss said his workers will use the lake-lowering to remove several inches of sediment from the bottom of the creek from Avenue N to Johnson Park, which will make the creek navigable for a planned kayak-rental service.
Hendricks said the Texas Department of Transportation plans to open bids for the Third Street bridge repair project next August, more than two years after the flood damaged the bridge.
TxDOT has agreed to repair the bridge, Hendricks said. In return, the city agreed to fund repairs to low-water crossings to make up its share of the project cost.
The city also continues to deal with the Federal Emergency Management Agency more than a year after the flood, Hendricks said.
FEMA has already awarded a $744,000 grant to buy back 10 properties that were destroyed in the flood, and a second grant will allow the city to purchase several properties located in flood-prone areas.
Hendricks said most flood repair projects should be completed within 18 months.
“Critical infrastructure was given priority, along with repairs to primary transportation routes,” Hendricks said. “Repairs to other city facilities, including some park facilities and other transportation, are being repaired as time and budget allow.”
Hendricks said he’s still waiting to hear about grant money the city needs to pay for the removal of sediment in area creek beds.
Officials say removing the excess sediment will allow greater waterflow through the creekbeds, which should prevent the creeks from overflowing their banks during another disaster.
“We applied for the grant in June and were supposed to hear back within 90 days, “ Hendricks said. “Then (Hurricane) Ike came along and changed all the rules. The state is so swamped with that right now. We’re still submitting requests, but it will take time.”
chris@thepicayune.com