Merriam approves $720,000 payment to U.S. Army Corps for Upper Turkey Creek design work

The Merriam City Council on a 7-0 vote authorized payment of $720,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to advance engineering and design work for the Upper Turkey Creek stormwater project. "We can't have a conversation about if we should pursue this path with the Corps until we actually have the answers of do we need to move that road," said Mister Ingalls, the staff presenter, explaining that the next phase will refine whether two bridges must be elevated and whether Merriam Drive must be shifted east, a change that could affect adjacent businesses. The council approved the payment to fund parcel-level mapping, bridge design follow-up and other detailed investigations that staff said are needed to tell property owners and businesses how the project would affect them. Nut graf: Staff described the $720,000 as Merriam’s 35% local match of a $2.06 million next-phase engineering cost; county partners have agreed to pick up 75% of the local match, staff said, so Merriam’s net expected cost is $180,000 after county reimbursement. The council authorized payment up front and staff will seek reimbursement from Johnson County. Staff said the Corps' prior 2015 feasibility study required more detailed, parcel-level work before Merriam could make an informed decision about pursuing federal construction funding. The next-phase scope includes identifying permanent and temporary easements, utility relocations and property impacts. Mister Ingalls told council the Corps typically plans for rural projects and that its team needs supplemental detail for dense commercial corridors. Council sought clarification about data ownership; staff said the city will own maps and data produced and could use them if it chooses an alternate course of action. A public commenter urged the council not to "destroy our historic downtown" in the pursuit of flood mitigation; the comment was recorded in the public record. The motion to pay the Corps advanced 7-0. Ending: Staff said the Corps expects the additional information to be available in January 2026 and will return to council with refined project impacts for property owners and potential next steps.