Plum task force forming as more than 50 properties still affected by July flood

Dillon Carr
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 10:29 a.m. | Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 10:29 a.m.

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Plum Creek Park along New Texas Road in Plum is closed indefinitely due to flood damage.

Plum council members plan to form a stormwater management task force and could hold its first meeting by the end of the month.

The idea was first discussed Sept. 4 during a workshop meeting by council Vice President David Seitz. Officials have received several complaints from residents whose homes, businesses and neighborhoods were decimated by storms July 21.

Members of the task force would include a public works supervisor, someone from the borough engineer Robert Mitall’s office, council members and possibly another administrator.

Councilman Dave Odom said he would want to be part of the task force.

“I’ve been out to one area on Anderson (Avenue) and so that’s a high priority on my list. Based on that visit, it could be a relatively easy solution,” he said, adding that Plum Creek runs underneath the road and that its flow is being blocked by sediment.

“It might be one area that could be fixed by removing some of the rocks and sediment that is preventing water from flowing its natural course,” Odom said.

Other areas he hopes the task force could focus on are Key West Drive, Holiday Park Drive and other residential areas.

He said the task force would be able to effectively analyze areas of concern with monthly meetings. From there, the group would determine how much funding the borough has to address them.

But the community members would be involved in the process, he said.

“They will be involved with discussions so we can take their concerns and factor them in to any decisions made,” Odom said.

“I’d like to get this going sooner rather than later,” Seitz said.

He said the purpose of the task force is to prioritize which projects can be solved in the short term.

Manager Michael Thomas has said the borough still has more than 50 stormwater issues to address. He plans to authorize up to $20,000 in overtime so public works crews can start cleaning up Plum Creek Park, which is located across from the borough building along New Texas Road.