Commissioners press for funding to finish long‑running Wilkerson Garden and Rocky Creek flood projects
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Summary
Commissioners demanded that long‑delayed drainage projects at Wilkerson Garden and Rocky Creek be prioritized in the SPLOST package after engineers confirmed portions of the work began years ago and remain incomplete.
Commissioner Stacy Pulliam raised alarm about ongoing flooding in Wilkerson Garden and Rocky Creek, telling the commission residents ‘‘are scared’’ each time it rains and noting work on those projects dates back to the early 2000s. Pulliam asked when SPLOST funds would be available to begin construction; administrator Allen and engineering director Dr. Malik confirmed the SPLOST collections would not begin in earnest until around 2026–2028 under the current timeline.
Dr. Malik said the Rocky Creek work began in the early 2000s and the Wilkerson Garden portion was started around February 2008. He said the department revised engineering's overall capital ask from about $171,000,000 to $93,250,000 to identify a minimum completion package; within that revision the department's request for Wilkerson Garden and Rocky Creek varied in internal documents, but Dr. Malik said a revised request includes approximately $4,000,000 for Wilkerson Garden and $2,000,000 for Rocky Creek, relying on other funding already available to complete the projects.
Commissioner Pulliam and others urged that previously started projects that remain incomplete be prioritized for completion. Administrator Allen asked commissioners to state priorities so staff can reflect them in a trimmed SPLOST package. No funding was approved at the session; staff were directed to ensure Wilkerson Garden and Rocky Creek are considered priority projects and to reconcile the documented request figures before the next meeting.
