By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
PARSONS – On Wednesday, Tucker County Commission President Lowell Moore gave an update on the status of the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike. He said the project would be going out to bid within the week.
“I met with Nancy Morgan with FEMA out of Charleston and Parice Bennat and Josh Chrisner, who are archeologists with SHPO and we discussed the dike repair. I took them up to the site of the dike and they are in the process of getting the paperwork together. They did not see anything that would hinder us moving forward at this time,” Moore said.
Moore said they told him the paperwork could take up to 30 days to process.
“I have not heard back from Fish and Wildlife (regarding a permit) but I anticipate I will get an answer back within a week from them,” Moore said. “I will probably put this out to bid but it may be held until Nov. 15.”
He said Fish and Wildlife had not come up to inspect the property,” he said. “So I am waiting for SHPO and Fish and Wildlife to get our permit.”
Moore said it would be 30 days at the most. “That would put us at Nov. 15 if we had to go the entire 30 days. I have a call out to Triad to change the dates on the bid and the pre bid opening. Once I get that, I will take it to the papers to put in an ad.”
Moore said if the bids come in higher than the estimated costs, he said the seriousness of the situation would warrant the city of Parsons and the County Commission to pull together to pay any balance. He said that had not been approved by either entity, but the repairs have to be made.
Another update on the Pulp Mill Bottom Dike will be presented by Moore today at the Commission meeting held at the Tucker County Courthouse beginning at 9 a.m.