Taylor Officials Still Seeking Residents’ Input On FloodingMarch 12th, 2008
By Naomi Hatch
The Town of Taylor has held three meetings to provide residents with the opportunity to give informa-tion on their flooding problems. Attendance has been less than officials hoped for, so a final meeting is slated on Saturday, March 15, at Taylor Town Hall, located at 425 W. Paper Mill Road.
“We want to get as many people and as much information as we can,” commented Town Manager Eric Duthie. He explained that town staff members have an idea where the water comes from and where it goes, but would like public input so that they can work with residents to solve these problems.
“The key is how we all work together,” he said, noting that residents cannot make it a state problem, a county problem, a town problem or God’s problem.
Residents are asked to come prepared with information that explains the problem and what they feel is the solution to the problem, and that data will be put on small maps. Duthie also asks residents to keep in mind the possibility of their problem being fixed and what impact it will have for their neighbors, saying, “Think where that fix will go next.”
“If you have damage from flooding, we don’t care how far back, we need numbers to go to the state for help,” said Duthie. He explained that they need dollar amounts so that when they ask for money from the state or federal government they have something to back up the request.
Duthie noted that the contract has been award for a study regarding detention basins that would gather floodwaters and release them slowly. The first detention basin will be located on 24 acres of state land between the airport and Highway 77. The study will cost approximately $200,000, so they will have to do one detention basin at a time.
“The cheapest way is to partner with the citizens,” he said.
Duthie said that he has been disappointed in the response to these meetings. Only 45 people have at-tended to discuss 23 problem areas. The town has held two meetings in the evening, one during the day and will host the final meeting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 15.
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