Culvert work, storm sewer upgrades planned with $1.4 million flood mitigation grants
The Oneida County Board of Legislators recently passed almost $1.5 million in flood mitigation grants to six municipalities.
This is the first time flood mitigation grants – which were awarded yearly – have been awarded since the pandemic.
The Oneida County Board of Legislators approved five grants totaling over $1.1 million for various flood mitigation grants across the county in 2021. However, that money was allotted from the 2020 budget, which was passed prior to the pandemic.
The grant program was first announced in the summer of 2017 as part of the county’s effort to provide funding for recovery from heavy rains that occurred July 1, 2017.
“Our history has been every two years we get hit by a flood,” said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., talking about bringing back the flood mitigation grants. “With Mother Nature, you never know when you dodge a bullet.”
A committee formed of legislators, a representative from the county executive’s office and representatives from the county Soil & Water Conservation District and Department of Planning considered the merits of any flood mitigation projects from municipalities applying for funding.
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A look at the grants
At its Wednesday, June 8 meeting, the Board unanimously voted to pass $1,426,708 in grants.
The town of New Hartford received two grants and Annsville, Boonville, Deerfield, Kirkland and Verona each received a grant.
New Hartford received the most money, with $780,000 combined between the two grants.
According to paperwork filed with the grants, this is how the money is allocated:
Annsville is receiving $296,250 for ditch and culvert upsizing
Boonville is receiving $100,000 for storm sewer upgrades
Deerfield is receiving $40,458 for ditch and culvert raising
Kirkland is receiving $150,000 to identify mitigation, stream stabilization and bridge and culvert work
New Hartford is receiving $480,000 in additional requested funds and $300,000 for a concrete box culvert and added wing walls
Verona is receiving $60,000 for stormwater drainage improvements
According to documentation, the New Hartford increase is for building a detention pond to repair damage done from previous floods near Preswick Dam and Mud Creek. New Hartford has now received $1,280,000 for the project.
An increase in material costs due to the pandemic is the reason given for the additional money allotted to New Hartford.
“These projects are time sensitive and the upstate construction season is limited,” said Oneida County Planning Commissioner James Genovese in a letter dealing with the 2022 flood mitigation allotment.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: How New Hartford, Annsville will use $1.4 million to prevent flooding
