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Resident warns of blocked culverts on Blakely Road; mayor says crews, FEMA review underway
Summary
A longtime Spanish Fort resident told the City Council that blocked culverts on Blakely Road are restricting flow and leaving sand and gravel on nearby property. Mayor Michael McMillan said crews have begun work, a public‑works employee was injured, and FEMA inspected the site; the city is awaiting FEMA's report and will prioritize repairs.
Charles Cattell, a Spanish Fort resident of nearly 49 years, told the City Council on Monday that several culverts under Blakely Road are clogged with boulders, concrete and sand and are allowing water to pass through only a 20‑inch channel, creating overflow and depositing gravel and sand on adjacent property.
“After the rain we had…you can see the massive amount of sand that has accumulated in the creek bed,” Cattell said. He said his rain gauge measured 1.1 inches during the recent storm and that the accumulated material and plugged openings are “going to cause multiple problems” and could cause trees to fall.
Mayor Michael McMillan told Cattell the city has crews working at the site to move boulders and clear flow paths and that the site was included in a recent Federal Emergency Management Agency inspection. He said a public‑works employee was injured while crews were working to clear the culverts and that the city is awaiting FEMA’s report, which will go to the governor’s office as part of any repair funding request. “We are very aware of it, Mr. Cattrell, and we’re certainly going to make it a priority to get it fixed,” McMillan said.
Cattell offered to remain after the meeting to provide additional details to city staff. Council members asked that the mayor and the public‑works supervisor, Shannon, coordinate on next steps once FEMA’s findings are available.
The matter was brought up during the meeting’s public participation period; council members did not take a formal vote at the meeting. The mayor’s remarks indicate the city has begun immediate, nonbinding cleanup and is seeking FEMA review for potential funding. The council did not adopt any ordinance or resolution about Blakely Road at the meeting.
City staff or public‑works supervisors did not provide a timetable for repairs at the meeting; the mayor said the city will prioritize the site when FEMA’s report and any required approvals are received.
