Committee approves Central Park drainage purchases and AECOM authorization

The Charleston City Public Works and Utilities Committee on April 27 voted to buy salt‑marsh mitigation credits and to authorize construction‑phase services for the Central Park drainage project.

Marvin Fountain, a staff member in the city’s stormwater program, told the committee the city would purchase $245,400 in salt‑marsh mitigation credits tied to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for a muted‑tide control structure at Riley Road. Fountain said the structure will limit the reach of higher tides while allowing normal daily tidal flow, preserving vegetation and increasing stormwater storage capacity.

Fountain also said design and permitting are complete and asked the committee to add bid‑phase and construction engineering inspection services to the city’s existing AECOM contract. He described the amendment as a $492,000 authorization to fund bidding and construction inspection work so the project can move to construction.

The committee approved both items by voice vote. Fountain said the mitigation purchase and the AECOM authorization are steps intended to reduce sunny‑day flooding and to restore older drainage capacity in parts of the city.

Fountain framed the work as part of a larger package of stormwater improvements downtown and on surrounding islands. He said restorations of existing arch and pipe systems will not eliminate flooding but will move water out more quickly and reduce emergency repair and sinkhole risks.

Next steps include completing bidding and contracting for the construction phase and coordinating the mitigation credit purchase alongside Corps permitting requirements. The committee did not set a separate timeline for construction in the meeting record.