All options, except the third, dramatically reduce the water’s velocity: The numbers given at the Thursday meeting reflect the amount of water expected to be left on lower Main Street in the event of a flood like the one in May 2016. … It’s about how much of Ellicott City can we retain while keeping us safe,” he added. … It’s not just a matter of which ones have been registered historic. “I want to retain as much as possible while keeping us safe as possible. In response to Funk, Ball said he “personally” believes people come to Main Street for a variety of reasons and that “part of that is the character and the culture. “Why in anyone’s right mind would move into a building” that was once slated for demolition, Funk asked. Residents during the meeting expressed concerns for funding, feasibility and safety.Īndy Funk, whose Main Street offices were destroyed in both floods, expressed concern for keeping the “skinny facades” the county hopes to preserve. “I really care about what’s happening in Ellicott City,” said the Republican, who now works as a commissioner on the state Workers’ Compensation Commission. Kittleman in an interview said he came to the meeting as a community member to “show support” for the town. The Thursday meeting was attended by former Councilman Jon Weinstein and Kittleman, both of whom proposed the five-year plan last year. Officials have said that using tunnels to mitigate flooding would be effective only if the Patapsco River stays at a certain level, which would likely not happen if a “bottom-up storm” like the 1972 Agnes flood occurs. Officials plan to demolish the back portions of the buildings partially located above the Tiber channel. A review of state property records shows the county paid $985,000 for Great Panes, $600,000 for Tea on the Tiber, $1.05 million for one of the Johnson buildings, $1.55 million for Shoemakers and $1.21 million for Miss Fit. Peterson declined to disclose how much the county paid for building acquisitions. The county owns seven of the 10 buildings once targeted for demolition. This figure is expected to increase as more repairs are completed and reimbursements move through the pipeline, Peterson said.īall has proposed $15 million for next fiscal year. To date, the county has spent $12.1 million on the 2018 Ellicott City flood and has been reimbursed been $3.2 million by federal agencies, according to Ball spokesman Scott Peterson. This could result in a heavy burden as revenue streams are in danger of falling short of the county’s spending, a government report found. If additional outside funding is not secured, the county will have to allocate money accrued from revenues or in bonds. Though the county has picked up $4.1 million in state funding and is using the $17 million awarded by the County Council last year, Ball in April acknowledged the county has yet to find funding for mitigation efforts. When Ball took office last year, he directed engineers to devise plans that prioritize historic preservation and minimize flooding, and to not think of financial limitations. None completely eliminate flooding, which experts consider impossible. Officials say the solutions presented are the most efficient ways to ensure safety and promote historic preservation. They would raze four buildings and leave an average maximum of 2 feet to 3 feet of water on lower Main Street, in the event of a flood like that in 2016. The two most expensive proposals cost between $113.5 million and $175 million and would take five to seven years to complete. Baltimore Sun eNewspaper Home Page Close Menu
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