Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Flood Response topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cramerton reviews Jan. 9 flood response, officials consider regional river-restoration committee
Summary
After a Jan. 9 flood that crested at 15.14 feet on the South Fork River, Cramerton leaders reviewed closures and damage, heard a restoration firm urge regional coordination and agreed to pursue a committee to pursue mitigation and grant opportunities.
Cramerton Mayor Nelson Wills and the Board of Commissioners reviewed the town’s immediate response to flooding from the Jan. 9 storm and discussed next steps for river restoration and regional coordination.
Stormwater Administrator Chase Sturgis told the board the South Fork River crested at 15.14 feet during the storm, a level above the moderate flood threshold and the highest since 2020. Cramer Mountain Road and Riverside Drive were closed at the peak, and eight town parks and river access points were closed until further notice. “Staff will begin to assess flood damage when the river begins to fall to its normal level of 3 feet,” Sturgis said during the briefing.
Brian Henry, chief operating officer of Sea & Shoreline Aquatic Restoration, presented services the firm can provide to help Cramerton respond to recurring flooding, including shoreline stabilization and post-flood restoration. Henry recommended forming a regional committee that would include neighboring jurisdictions and stakeholders to coordinate prevention and response efforts.
Commissioner Scott Kincaid said the Sea & Shoreline presentation reinforced options for the town. “There are some solutions out there, not something we have to accept as a Town,” Kincaid said, urging the board to prioritize next steps. Mayor Wills echoed the urgency: “The water level is a huge deal that’s only going to get worse. Any step that we take now is in the right direction.”
Officials did not adopt formal policy at the meeting but discussed forming a committee or working group; Mayor Pro Tempore Richard Atkinson and other commissioners supported moving the idea forward and asked staff to draft next steps and necessary volunteer or committee forms. The board also acknowledged the role of Sea & Shoreline’s local knowledge and asked staff to explore partnership options.
Practical next steps noted in the meeting record included assessing flood damage once river levels drop, closing and reopening park access as conditions permit, and documenting infrastructure impacts for potential grant applications. The town manager, Zach Ollis, thanked police and other staff for their flood response and said staff would follow up with more detailed assessments and budget implications.
The board did not take a formal vote to create the committee during the meeting; commissioners signaled support for staff to begin planning and outreach to stakeholders. The town will return to the topic for any required formal actions, funding decisions or ordinance updates.
