P.C. Council Work Session Addressed Problems and Solutions For Crowell Park

Roughly 40 residents of South Phenix City attended a City Council Work Session on Tuesday, April 14 inside the Council Chamber.

The meeting, which was contentious at times, provided an opportunity for residents to explain their concerns related to the flooding of Crowell Park and Meadowview neighborhoods, as well as for city officials to explain what has been done and what can be done to remedy the problem.

While some residents and their families have lived in the neighborhood since it was built in 1970, others purchased their homes within the last two years.

“I had to have the fire department rescue me and I am thankful because I was fearful. It was a frightening sight. I am still having anxiety related to the water,” said Betty Richardson, who lives at 1501 Jackson Drive. “This was the third time it happened, and this time was the worst for me. I was fearful for my life. I was there by myself. I’m just here to say help me some kind of way. I need help.”

Her sentiments were echoed by more than a dozen people who spoke during the meeting.

City officials explained that there are several reasons the flooding was particularly bad earlier this month.

“The dredging that they have done under a normal rain situation that normally works, but when we have a super storm there is nowhere for the water to escape,” said City Manager Wallace Hunter.

Still, Hunter said the city already had contacted the U.S. Corp of Engineers to request that they dredge Cochgalechee Creek again, and his staff had directed the public works department to clean the ditches and stormwater lines to attempt to mitigate the problem. Yet, officials said the only real solution is to have FEMA acquire all of the properties and turn the neighborhood into green space.

The neighborhood was built in 1970 before there were flood regulations for builders in Phenix City. In 1997, FEMA offered residents a buyout after a major flood, but only five owners took the offer. Many times, residents don’t take the offer because it is not enough money to purchase another home of the same quality, and with many of the residents more than 70 years old, they do not want to go back into debt purchasing another home at this late stage in life.

Al James, who was raised on Jackson Drive and whose father still lives there, said when FEMA originally offered to purchase the homes, they offered about half of what his home was worth.

“What am I going to do with that,” James said.

However, several homeowners asked about the potential for a new buyout, while others said they did not want to move.

Dalton Garrett Urda moved to Phenix City from Chicago. He and his husband purchased their home less than two years ago and they have experienced two floods resulting in a total loss of furniture and possessions.

“I love my neighbors. They are some of the best people I have ever met,” Urda said. “However, I wish someone had told me about the flooding.”

He said he is willing to accept a buyout if it were offered because he can’t continue to replace everything in his home.

Urda and others said they felt dupped by the realtors who sold them their homes without telling them the history of flooding dating back 30 plus years.

In Alabama there are no laws requiring realtors to disclose flood history of a property before it is purchased.

State Rep. Jeremy Gray said he will work to change that.

Assistance is limited because few of the homes qualify for flood insurance and if it is offered it is cost prohibitive for most. Additionally, FEMA said they could not help residents with the most recent flood because the incident was not declared a federal disaster by President Donald Trump or a state of emergency by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey.

City Engineer Angel Moore explained that in 2010-2011 the city hired CDG Engineers to complete a comprehensive stormwater management plan for Cochgalechee Creek, which runs behind Crowell Park.

“The study recommended property acquisition along Jackson Drive and surrounding neighborhoods,” Moore said. “There is no way that you’re going to be able to stop the flooding of those homes because they were built below the flood plain. I know that is not what people want to hear, but that is the solution.”

The engineering plan also suggested that the flood plain restoration go from Seale Road eastwards to Brickyard Road, which would require even more property acquisition.

Nevertheless, she said the city was applying for state and federal funding to help, including: FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and Division D Hazard Mitigation Plan; Delta Regional Commission Strategic Planning Program funds and Community Infrastructure Funds; and Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Community Development Block Grants.

Moore showed slides which detailed how the water flows throughout the city.

“There is no way to go back and retrofit the area. The subdivision never should have been built there. That’s why the area needs to be returned to a greenspace,” she said, adding that anytime there is a severe storm, the creek will flood.

She said previously the city considered putting drains under the homes and creating levies, but after investigation it was determined that those ideas would not work.

Hunter said when there is a heavy rain, water comes from Ladonia looking to return to the Chattahoochee River; but when the river swells, the creek backs up and water has nowhere else to go but to the lowest lying area, which is Crowell Park.

After the meeting residents said they felt like they had more information, but they still were not pleased with the information, because they don’t know when anything will happen. Hunter told them to select a representative to stay in contact with the city so city officials can keep them informed.

“They just trying to make people sell their properties,” said Ericka Sanderson, 52, who was raised in Crowell Park. “I feel like you could take some properties and build level, and they could save the rest of the properties.”