The city shifted nearly a half-million dollars in emergency expenses related to Hurricane Ida in September, with a plan to finance them over several years and possibly be reimbursed by the state or federal government.
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City Council approved a resolution (AR-277) during its Dec. 13 regular meeting for emergency appropriations of $450,000 for “extraordinary expenses for the repair and reconstruction of streets, roads or bridges, or other public property” related to Hurricane Ida.
Various departments used their operating budgets to abate whatever they encountered during Hurricane Ida, according to City Administrator Jacqueline Foushee, whether that was to stabilize waterways, overtime personnel costs, buying meals, or whatever it was. Since those funds were used out of operating budgets, they will be moved to a special fund to be financed over the next three to five years to free up that operating costs. Expenses that already occurred as a result of Ida may be eligible to be reimbursed by the state or federal government. “That’s why we had to account for it separately,” Foushee said during a telephone interview earlier this month.
The Irving Street bridge, which provides access to downtown from East Grand Avenue, was severely damaged during Hurricane Idea and has been closed ever since.
Irving Street being a county road, the bridge is owned by Union County. The bridge was in poor condition and due to be under construction in 2022. Drawings for a new bridge were nearing completion almost a year ago, according to Foushee, while Union County has been concentrating on a Hazelwood Avenue project.
Scour protection on the Hamilton Street bridge also needs to be replaced, according to Foushee. As water comes down the waterway and hits against the bridge, scour protection is the stone or other materials that protect the bridge. Foushee said the city has impressed upon the county the importance of scheduling the two projects separately. “We were trying to keep in mind activities we planned,” she said. “It would really impact traffic there.”
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