It was a packed house in Manhattan City Hall on Wednesday night. Neighbor helped neighbor gather extra chairs in what quickly turned into a standing room only meeting.
The goal of the evening was to inform the public of the Wildcat Creek Watershed Resiliency Project and its advancement to the final round in the National Disaster Resilience Competition, sponsored by the department of U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The competition provides nearly $1 billion in grant funds to assist communities that have declared a major natural disaster between 2011 and 2013. The county is seeking $40 million to aid in project efforts, but will have contingency plans in place should they be approved and receive less money.
Chad Bunger, Senior Planner and Floodplain Manager for the City of Manhattan, spoke to 135 residents effected by reoccurring flood events. Bunger expresed the desire of he and his colleagues to get community feedback on an issue that has caused many headaches.
With 129 properties at risk for flooding in the region, a popular topic became that of buyouts and relocation. Misty Opatt of St. George urged project officials to look at how “emotionally important” the topic can be for homeowners like her grandparents, who have invested in property as a means to support their retirement, or pass on to their children. Opatt said flood damage and the risk of flooding has hurt the value of properties, driving home her views by saying,”It isn’t fair.”
Manhattan City Commissioner Linda Morse evoked a passionate response from the crowd when she shared that she believes the city has developed in areas that it shouldn’t have over the years. The commissioner’s words resulted in cheers and applause.
Shelley Carver with the Flint Hills Regional Council put minds at ease, making it clear that buyouts “will be acquired on a voluntary basis.” She also noted citizens may soon be seeing door-to-door surveys in the area so project officials can continue to gauge needs and concerns.
A main goal of the project, as expressed by both Bunger and Tom Morey with the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s National Flood Insurance Program, is to develop the Wildcat Creek area into an amenity, adding park space and walking trails to the area.
Both men expressed their hope to turn to innovative and long term solutions that will control flooding. Morey said they are looking at things that can be done in the upstream, allowing property owners to make value of the water falling on their property and the removal of structures at risk of flooding throughout the watershed — either through moving, raising, or buying out properties.
As the application process progresses toward its Oct. 27 deadline, Bunger said more meetings will take place to keep the public informed and continue to get their feedback.
Awards are anticipated to be made at the beginning of 2016, and should the county receive funding Morey said he will begin work on the project as quickly as possible.
