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Mills River aims to reopen river access this spring as FEMA, state funding and appeals continue
Summary
Town staff reported steady progress on FEMA-funded repairs and design work to restore river access and meadow areas, announced a pending OSBM grant before council, and said a FEMA appeal over tennis‑court replacement is unresolved while survey and permitting work proceeds for a late‑spring opening of river access.
Town staff told the Mills River Town Council that restoring public river access and repairing park features damaged in last year's storms is a top priority, and described parallel reimbursement and grant paths being pursued while FEMA reviews continue.
Staff noted the work follows FEMA categories (A–G) and reported completion or near‑completion of several lines of work: sewer pump replacements, well‑house repairs at the dairy, and surveying/design for river access and meadow restoration. For the tennis court, FEMA denied replacement coverage and the town has appealed; the town has 60 days to appeal and FEMA has 90 days to rule on the appeal.
Because the FEMA appeal process can be slow, staff applied for and won a state Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) grant opportunity and plans to bring the grant to council for approval at the Feb. 12 meeting to accelerate repairs if the FEMA appeal is delayed or denied. Project management and design contracts for river access design and construction management were described as signed for the preliminary phase, and staff emphasized an objective of reopening river access in late spring to early summer.
On timing and next steps, staff said surveying and permitting work resumed after recent holidays, with TRC (the town's on‑call engineering firm) conducting additional survey work to refine grading and access features within the permitted footprint. Town staff said they will continue to press FEMA for accurate cost estimates on items such as the parking lot and boat launch and will present the OSBM grant for council approval to avoid unnecessary delays to park reopening.
Council requested that the town consult with the original tennis‑court donors before relocating or redesigning the court as part of any larger park redesign. Staff said the town will reach out to donors and report back.
Next steps: staff will present the OSBM grant at the Feb. 12 council meeting, continue surveying and design for river access, and advance permitting and phased construction management with an eye to reopening access late spring/early summer.
