More Drainage Work

Central Mayor Jr. Shelton will interview three contractors this week who are vying to put more “boots on the ground” clearing drainage choke points that have been identified since the August flood by CSRS.
IBTS director David Ratclif said his firm has already walked and cleared from 60 to 70 miles of canals and ditches in the city. Much of this work is off-road and cannot easily be seen by the public but it is essential to water flow, he said. The new contract will continue the work of IBTS using information not available prior to evaluating the August flood.
The mayor said he and Councilman Jason Ellis
have worked for two years on a Request for Qualifications, which will be issued later this month, seeking engineering firms that can develop a comprehensive drainage plan for the city. Once that plan is adopted, a contractor will be chosen to execute that plan.
Ellis told the Council the cost of a comprehensive plan could be $24 million or more over 20 years.  The city currently has on hand $4.7 million for drainage and can access another $2.6 million. Shelton said, “The reason we have not spent that money is that it will be needed to help pay for the comprehensive drainage plan and now the choke points identified by CSRS.”