Wyoming Valley Dam Overseer Awaits Lucerne County American Rescue Funding


			
				                                
			
				                                
			
				                                
			
				                                Lucerne County Flood Protection Authority on Wyoming Avenue at Forty Fort File photo

Exactly one year ago, the Lucerne County Council approved up to $8 million from the federal American Rescue Plan for the county’s flood protection agency, which controls the Wyoming Valley dam along the Susquehanna River.

However, board members said on Tuesday they are increasingly concerned that the authorities have yet to receive any funding, especially as the proposed agreement they negotiated with the county to complete all work was due to begin on January 1 of this year. of the year.

All of American Rescue’s funding is due by the end of 2026, but officials say some of their projects will take time because dam work requires careful government review and permits.

While authorities have temporarily taken on costs for some projects while awaiting reimbursement, other work cannot begin until authorities are confident American Rescue funding will come in, board members said at their monthly meeting.

The Office’s executive director, Christopher Belleman, told the board that he had completed all paperwork requested by the county and its US rescue consultant, Booth Management Consulting, and had not received any negative feedback about the authorities’ project plans.

Belleman said he emailed the American County Rescue Team on Tuesday morning asking for a funding status report and was told he would receive a response within two business days.

Acting County Manager Brian Swetz said Tuesday the administration is working with Booth to allocate funds for the American Rescue awards, which were approved by the board before it voted to retain Booth Management last June.

For example, a year ago, the council also voted to allocate $2 million to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority for the construction and maintenance of a rain garden and stream bank restoration, in exchange for an agreement that the county would not have to pay a storm drain fee as long as it did not use a fee credit of 2 million dollars.

Svets said flood control, WVSA and other previously approved appropriations should not be delayed as the board figures out how to deal with a separate $60 million American Rescue appropriation for other third parties.

While county jurisprudence has reviewed the proposed funding agreements with both flood control and sanitation authorities, Swetz said a decision still needs to be made on whether the agreements must be signed by the county council or an acting superintendent.

Schwetz expressed confidence that the funds would be disbursed soon, although he could not provide a specific date.

“It should be on the radar as soon as possible,” Schwetz said.

Flood management projects include repairs to dam pumping stations and stormwater discharge wells.

Stretching for 16 miles, the dam system includes 78 drainage structures, 128 discharge wells, 13 pumping stations with 39 submersible pumps and a power distribution system consisting of eight substations, 27 transformers and miles of underground and overhead power lines, officials said. .

Waste wells resemble metal garbage cans above ground and act as valves to release water pressure that could damage the dam. A recently authorized contractor inspected and tested the wells, and Belleman said the US Army Corps of Engineers is analyzing the results to determine which one needs repair or replacement.

Another planned project, Belleman said, will replace the expansion joints on the Wilkes-Barre levee wall, similar to the previous project on the wall at Forty Fort. Sealant-filled joints were needed to allow the concrete to expand and contract and prevent cracking.

Belleman said the American Rescue funding will also be used to compensate for the replacement of the storm water conduit adjacent to the Kingston dam. An old pipe installed to collect runoff from the Pierce Street Bridge had fallen into disrepair to the point where storm water began to run into the dam, he said.

Among other expenses on the authorities’ long list are projects related to closing dams and maintaining the certification of dams for flood insurance purposes.

On Tuesday, the Board of Directors approved a $223,700 low-bid contract with Dalton, Pennsylvania-based D&M Construction Unlimited Inc. for roof repairs at two storage buildings on the dam and masonry/roof repairs at seven pumping stations. This is one of the projects slated for American Rescue funding.

In a reorganization on Tuesday, the board welcomed new member James Delaney. The members of the board of directors retained their former officers for 2023: Dominique Iannuzzi, Chairman; William Hardwick, Vice Chairman; Gordon Dassinger, Treasurer; and John Madey, secretary. Delaney will be assistant secretary/treasurer.

Contact Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or tweet @TLJenLearnAndes.

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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

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