HomeMy WebLinkAboutFlood spurs call for bond issue 1981Flood spurs call fobond issue
By DAVID CRISP
Staff Writer
Bryan residents Wednesday told city coun-
cilmen horror stories of flooded homes and ruined
carpets and applauded a proposal for a "massive
bond issue" to correct Bryan drainage problems.
More than 50 Bryan residents turned out for the
special council meeting, which Mayor Richard
Smith called to "highlight" problems revealed by
recent heavy rains and flooding. A 15- month -old
boy was swept to his death Oct. 15 when more
than five inches of rain fell on various parts of the
city.
"It's a real problem that we're going to con-
tinue to have as long as we don't have funds,"
Smith told residents at the outset. "We on the
,council can't promise anybody anything because
we don't have the money."
But the warmest reaction of the evening greeted
a suggestion by Frank Thurmond of Parkwood
Terrace for a "massive bond issue" to fund,
among other things, major channel improvements
on Carter Creek from the Navasota River to Texas
21.
"What we have seen here the last few weeks
ain't nothing," Thurmond said, pointing out
estimates that the population of Bryan could reach
100,000 people by the year 2000.
"Bryan is going to become a second rate city"
without major improvements, he said. "I pay a lot
of taxes, but I'd rather pay a lot more taxes and
Commissioners tackle flood control
By JANN SNELL
/( -. g/ Staff Writer
Brazos county commissioners agreed Monday to
begin tackling the problem of flood control in the
area, but disagreed over how much it might cost.
Pct. 3 Commissioner Billy Beard, whose nor-
thwestern precinct was hardest hit by last
September's flood, suggested that the county and
the cities should work together on clearing debris,
brush and dead trees from either side of Carter
Creek.
Beard, who said he has consulted with federal soil
conservation engineers, said it would cost about
$500,000 to clear excess debris along either side of
the creek and seed the land with grass.
But Pct. 1 Commissioner Bill Cooley and County
Judge R.J. "Dick" Holmgreen each predicted that
flood control along Carter Creek would probably
cost far in excess of a half million dollars.
Holmgreen said he has informally talked with the
mayors Bryan and College Station and has planned
to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to
conduct a comprehensive flood study of the county.
The Corps of Engineers may be willing to help
foot the bill for any flood control needed in the
county, Holmgreen said.
Beard countered that he felt the county should
get started as soon as possible on flood control and
see my property worth a lot more than to see it go
down the drain."
Others of the two dozen speakers seconded
Thurmond's comments, proposed an increase in
ad valorem taxes, or asked that the city use the
power of eminent domain to acquire drainage
easements.
Mayor Smith pointed out that voters in 1977 re-
jected a $1.8 million bond issue for drainage im-
provements. He also called for an update of the ci-
ty's 1970 comprehensive plan and its 1976 capital
improvements plan.
Most of the speakers were primarily concerned
about problems on their streets and at their
homes. "Water is frightening," said one, and
many had frightening stories to tell about the
flood of two weeks ago.
Some reported water as high as four feet in their
homes; others told of air conditioners and food
out of refrigerators washing away; one man said
he had to tie his boat to keep it in his garage.
A resident on Choctaw Lane, who reported four
inches of water in her home, said, "The city blam-
ed the contractors, the contractors blamed the city
and they both blamed the highway department."
Rose Marie Lindsay, 3500 Spring Lane, said
residents there have had to fend for themselves
with retention walls to stop flooding. "The city
should compensate those of us who have to do
what the city should be doing," she said.
not waste additional time seeking handouts and
studies from the federal government "for a pro-
blem we've created here, and, I think, we can con-
trol here."
"I think if the (federal) funds are available, we
should try to get them," Holmgreen responded.
"Or, I can assure you, someone else will."
Timing is the crucial consideration, Beard said.
"I'm worried about 20 years down the road when
there'll be more people and buildings," Beard said.
Beard pointed out that the flooding problem will
not go away. "if we don't do something now, we'll
be sitting hear with the same problem in 20 years."
Clearing about 100 feet on either side of Carter
Creek will allow the creek under flooded conditions
to run slower and shallower to the flood plain of the
Navasota River, Beard said.
"We wouldn't change the natural flow of the
creek," Beard stressed. "We wouldn't move any
(living) tree over six inches high. It would make the
creek a lot prettier and still keep all the wild life."
The problem the county and cities may face in
obtaining federal help is whether the Corps of
Engineers considers the county's water problem one
of flooding or one of drainage, Holmgreen said.
"You'd have a hard time convincing somverson
that the three feet of water he had in his house after
the last big rain was one of drainage," Cooley said.