A handful of recommendations made by the City of Greenville’s Public Works Committee were considered by the city council for approval.
Among those approved were the authorization of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) to be performed to determine the condition of the sewer line along Deaton Street from South Theobald Street to Broadway Street and the purchase and installation of a protective barrier that conforms to Mississippi Department of Transportation standards for a stretch along the curve of S. Main St. in front of the Jewish Cemetery and authorizing the city attorney to review any exposure to liability the city may incur.
Council also approved ratifying the request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to grant an extension to complete repair projects under the Flood of 2019 damage assessments and authorizing resuming construction for the completion of those infrastructure projects contingent upon approval of the extension by FEMA.
“During the Flood of 2019 of course we had 37 street failures and 30 sewer failures. We were above flood stage for over 150 days,” Simmons explained. “So, we were dealing with the FEMA repairs when COVID hit and there’s still projects left to be done.”
Of the total cost of the projects, FEMA would pay 75% while Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the city would pay 12.5% respectively.
With a Sept. 30 deadline looming for project completion, Vice Mayor and public works committee member James Wilson said at this point the city is working to acquire an extension for the projects so that time won’t run out.
Public Works deputy director Ronnie Washington noted they were given the project cost estimates back in 2019, roughly two years ago and, now, they are subject to change.
“One of the projects is on Wildwood and McClain,” Washington informed the council. “We’ve got a storm drain crossing almost right at McClain on Wildwood that we need to replace in that section — the concrete part and the asphalt part.”
Thornton and Pickett St. is another area in which a section of concrete has to be replaced as well as the intersection of Tennessee Gas Rd. and Oak Drive where a section of asphalt has to be replaced, Washington pointed out.
Washington said the projects could possibly be completed by Sept. 30 if FEMA grants the deadline extension and public works focuses on those projects.
Mayor Errick Simmons said because of the 87.5% reimbursement hanging in the balance, it is best to go on and get those areas done.
