Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Facilities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Veterans group warns of repeated flooding at Van Zandt County memorial; commissioners ask staff to investigate
Summary
A representative for the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial told commissioners recurring silt and drainage problems are damaging HVAC units and threaten a $600,000 building housing four tenants; the court directed staff to locate prior agreements and coordinate with TxDOT and the City of Canton to scope remediation.
A presenter representing the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial told the Commissioners Court on May 20 that repeated flooding and silt accumulation around the memorial are now damaging air-conditioning equipment and threatening the structure.
The presenter said the memorial property was raised with county assistance years ago but that silt has built up in a drainage channel to the point that water now backs up behind a bridge and floods toward the building after multi-inch rains. "It's going to damage our building which is a $600,000 building and the building is occupied by four businesses besides us," the presenter said, urging the court to act before damage escalates.
County staff and the presenter reviewed prior contacts with TxDOT and the City of Canton; the city located an older agreement that appeared to assign some maintenance responsibilities historically. Commissioners directed the county engineer/public-works staff to:
- Locate the original agreement and confirm whether the county has maintenance responsibility; - Coordinate with TxDOT and the City of Canton on recommended channel work and grading; and - Prepare a cost estimate and scope for channel cleanout that could be performed when ground conditions are dry.
Commissioners noted the work will be substantial if the channel must be cleared all the way to downstream structures; staff said a full remediation could require removal and disposal of hundreds to perhaps a thousand cubic yards of silt. The court expressed willingness to use county equipment and seek participation from adjacent property owners and agencies where the channel crosses other parcels.
Next steps: County engineers will report back with the original agreement, TxDOT input and a recommended scope and cost for remediation; the court did not approve immediate emergency contracting at the meeting but signaled urgency to prevent further damage.
