A local advocacy group is throwing its weight behind efforts to shore up Eubanks Creek.
Meanwhile Jackson city officials say they are moving forward with plans to improve drainage there, more than two months after a major storm caused flash flooding in August.
Consultants recently completed designs for the project, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the city to proceed with the work. And last month, Jackson sent out letters asking residents along the creek for temporary easements.
About 15 easements are needed in all, according to Engineering Manager Charles Williams.
Construction would likely begin within six months after the easements are obtained.
Neighbors met recently to discuss the creek. The meeting was organized by Working Together Jackson (WTJ), a consortium that represents approximately 35 community groups across the city.
Khalid Hudson, an organizer with the group, said the goal is to build a coalition of neighbors to help bring attention to Eubanks Creek to encourage the city to make improvements.
“The most direct work coming out of this meeting is that we need to get all the neighbors that are affected to build a consensus of what they’d like to see happen … and hold the city accountable for what they said they’re going to do.”
He said WTJ hopes to discuss the creek with Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba in the coming weeks.
About 10 people attended the gathering, which was held at the home of Scott Crawford on Choctaw Drive.
Residents discussed the recent flood and questioned why it has taken the city so long to address the problem.
“I got over six inches of water in my house,” said Colibri Jenkins, who also lives on Choctaw. “I was able to pump the water out and came away with minimal damage.”
She and Crawford both lost vehicles in the August 12 storm, which dumped approximately 5.67 inches of rain in the Eubanks Creek drainage basin in an hour and a half.
Linda Wilson, who lives on the street, said Choctaw floods “a minimum of four times a year.”
While residents are concerned about the flooding, Jackson city officials say they’re making progress on implementing improvements.
The project runs from Seminole Drive to Eagle Avenue and includes widening the creek where possible to increase capacity and adding rip rap to prevent erosion, Williams said. The Seminole Drive bridge will also be removed to improve water flow downstream.
Designs were drawn up by Stantec Consulting Services. The firm was brought on in 2016 for approximately $387,000.
Construction is expected to cost $1.4 million and will likely be paid for with revenues from the city’s one-percent infrastructure sales tax. To reduce costs, the city is asking residents to donate the easements. However, contractors would be responsible for repairing any damage done to private property once work is complete.
Even with the improvements, Williams said residents would receive little relief in the event of another August 12 storm.
“That area is in a floodway. The only thing we’re doing is improving it to handle a five or 10-year storm at max,” he said. “We can’t go deeper or wider because of the close proximity of the homes.”
