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Residents press boards for flood-resilience funds and mapping; community votes support planning
Summary
Speakers from Highland Together reported more than 300 residents participated in local planning; community members urged retention/detention projects and grant applications to reduce runoff and prevent future storm damage after events in 1996, 2011 and 2023.
At the June 29 meeting, Olga Anderson told the boards that more than 300 residents participated in 'Highland Together We Decide' and that the next phase — 'Highland Together We Build' — will pursue grant funding to implement prioritized ideas. Anderson asked that the report be added to the meeting minutes and urged continued trustee and councilmember involvement.
Flood-resilience team members described mapping of storm damage for 1996, 2011 and 2023 and argued the village and town need more mitigation projects, such as retention/detention ponds, to keep water from washing down Mountain Avenue. Resident Merv Livsey recounted repeated damage to his property during storms, saying that a retaining wall washed into a brook and that he received no FEMA assistance after the 2023 event. "There will be another storm. We need a retention detention pond to close off and water run off does not come down Mountain Ave," Livsey said. Board members encouraged continued engagement and noted grants are available to support mitigation planning.
