Monterey’s Stamps Hollow Creek will be cleaned up pending final approval from the state, helping with drainage in the area.
Engineering Consultant Jerry Warren said a section of the creek from Industrial Avenue to the Sewer Lift Station has been clogged. Warren said invasive species, sediment, and trees have accumulated. Warren said plans have been approved by TDEC, and now the town is waiting to receive an aquatic resources alteration permit.
“What we have styled that is, it’s for an enhancement project for the alteration of the stream to clean it out, kind of revegetate it, put in some more desirable vegetation that kind of fits in with the wetter areas next to the creek,” Warren said.
Warren said the two other sections of the project consist of addressing the banks that are eroding along East Railroad Avenue and widening the creek area to increase stormwater capacity near Whitaker Park. Warren said the town will need to have contracts in place for the project by the end of August in order to keep the grant funding.
“In order to do that, our goal right now is we would request bids probably sometime the last week in July,” Warren said. “So that way we can get the bids, we can review them, hopefully, we can have those back to you all at your August meeting.”
Warren said he has sent out letters to property owners who are associated with the project, as access through multiple properties is needed. Warren said he has only received one signed easement.
“We just need to get access so we can get in to clean the stuff out of the creek,” Warren said. “The other sections of the creek that we haven’t specifically focused on, with the permit that we are asking for, if we see logs, trees, what have you, we can get permission from TDEC to reach in there and remove the impediments. But we can’t just drive through everybody’s yard without them agreeing to give us access. So that’s where I’m gonna ask for your help.”
Warren said he has not been able to contact property owners, and the few he has contacted have been against granting access. Warren said a few property owners are uncertain of what the project would do to their property.
Warren said, unfortunately, the project does not have the money to compensate property owners for granting access. Warren said any damage caused to the property would be restored.
