Fairfield board reviews status of flood‑resilience projects, schedules public meetings

The Flood Prevention, Climate Resilience and Erosion Control Board on Feb. 18 reviewed progress on a slate of active projects — from beach nourishment and culvert repairs to tie‑gates and master‑plan work — and confirmed two public information sessions to collect local ideas for upcoming planning.

Board Chair Becky Bunnell called the meeting to order and opened the session by asking members to introduce themselves. The board then moved an agenda order change so staff could present updates on active projects before other items.

The board heard that GVA, a consultant, completed a benefit‑cost analysis for the Riverside Drive/Turning Creek area and found the benefit‑cost ratio did not meet FEMA eligibility thresholds; no further FEMA‑funded work is moving forward on that segment, though the Churning Creek bridge and tie‑gate project is under construction to replace a bridge with culverts and tie gates, including construction administration and inspection, Bill Early of the engineering team told the board.

The board discussed a previously scoped South Bend pump‑station project that rose to an estimated $38 million–$40 million during the COVID era. Early said that because many existing WPA drainage…