City might borrow $50K for creek study

A Common Council committee on Wednesday will consider whether the city should borrow nearly $50,000 to conduct a study of water flow in the Twaalfskill Creek during heavy rain.

The meeting of the Finance/Audit Committee is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 420 Broadway.

City Engineer Ralph Swenson said he has recommended the committee endorse borrowing $48,900 to hire Tighe & Bond Engineers to conduct the study. The company already has created a proposal for the work.

The borrowing ultimately would have to be approved by the full Common Council and Mayor

Steve Noble.

Swenson said the study is part of a renewed effort to ease flooding on roads and properties in the area of the Twaalfskill Creek.

He said the study will consider water flows in almost all of the creek.

It is well known that two creek culverts, one on Brook Street and the other on South Wall Street, do not function as they should, and that one on Chapel Street also has “limitations,” Swenson said.

The inefficiency of these culverts appears to be to blame for water spilling onto roads and properties.

The goal of the study, Swenson said, would be to determine the flow of water at certain times, particularly during heavy rain; and to identify the flow capacity and boundary conditions for future repairs and replacement of the Chapel Street, Brook Street and South Wall Street culverts, and an uncontrolled channel that meanders along Wilbur Avenue.

The study will not suggest design plans for rebuilding any of the culverts, Swenson said. He said another plan would be needed for that.