Council hears flood‑recovery update; culvert replacement at City Park awarded to BBock Enterprises

Chris, the city’s director of the office of compliance and enforcement and floodplain coordinator, presented the ERSIS update on flood recovery at the July 6 meeting and said the city has selected a low bidder for the Jenkins City Park culvert replacement.

Chris said BBock Enterprises LLC (local bidder) submitted the low bid at $24,569.77 and was chosen to perform the park culvert work. The project scope includes resetting displaced culverts, installing geotextile fabric to stabilize banks and allow vegetation to reestablish, placing crushed limestone and DGA road base and constructing two culvert head walls as the primary mitigation intended to prevent future washouts. Staff said work on the project will begin as soon as possible.

Chris explained the culvert work is part of a combined effort to address multiple sites damaged in the February 2025 flood. He said FEMA has grouped several park and infrastructure repairs into a combined obligation; the transcript referenced a remaining obligation of about $48,000 covering culvert repair and mitigation costs tied to the 2025 event. Councilors asked clarifying questions about whether blacktop or additional paving work was covered under that amount; staff said some paving needs likely exceed the $48,000 obligation and would be bid separately.

The presentation also noted the city completed a recent walkability audit, has scheduled public engagement (stakeholder meeting July 20 and Jenkins Days outreach Aug. 21), and is preparing application materials for ARC fiscal 2026 rounds. Chris said FEMA inspections and differentiating damage across multiple flood events have presented challenges for site assessments and claims.

Next steps: staff will schedule mobilization with the selected contractor, complete remaining inspections and proceed with separate bids for any additional paving that is not covered by the identified FEMA obligation.