By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – Tucker County Commission President Lowell Moore said if everything goes well, the Pulp Mill Bottom dike project could begin construction in the middle of October.
“We have our site plans in hand and the two things we lack is an estimated cost and for them to prepare a bid package,” Moore said. “A proper bid package is being prepared by Triad. FEMA wants an estimated cost.”
Moore said as of Wednesday, he has received the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit. “I applied for that and received it Wednesday. I also have the permit from the Department of Natural Resources in hand.”
He said Triad is to provide an estimate of the cost by Wednesday (today). He said he is working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “I have to submit a letter to them. They do not issue a permit but do give permission for the work.”
Moore said everything is nearly finished and said the job is very close to being put out the contract.
“The approval from U.S. Fish and Wildlife is crucial,” he said.
Work on the Pulp Mill Bottom dike will entail making a service road to the dike.
“They are going to build a 20 foot road on the side of the dike so they can keep the equipment off of the dike,” he said. “Then they will make a 40 by 40 pad to put the equipment on. Then they will put in a double coffer wall to keep the water away from the work site.”
He said the plan is to take an excavator and reach overtop (so as not to damage any further what is there) and complete the work on the dike.
“The dike is approximately 300 feet long and the last 100 feet is what is damaged,” he said. “The rest of it is still intact. The plan is to put in the double wall to protect the fish, reach over and fix the three damaged areas by putting in shot rock and then grouting.”
Moore said they will put a new 100 foot mat, just like was on there before, and put it down to the river bed, and pump it full of concrete and put the mat over the top, raising it 5 to 6 inches.
“It should make that area sturdier than before,” he said. “We are not taking the older material out, but putting this overtop. That has pleased everybody.”
Moore said once the work is completed, FEMA requires that the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike have an annual inspection that is documented and recorded.
“The Tucker County Commission is working daily on this project to assure it is repaired before winter,” Moore said. “We are waiting on the bureaucracy process.”
Officials originally discovered a hole in the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike in Parsons during the July 4 weekend in 2014 and have been working with county, state and federal agencies to help secure funds to get the damage repaired to keep local residents safe should there be flooding in the area.