BERLIN– The status of improvements to the town’s stormwater system was outlined for the mayor and Town Council Monday night by a representative of the environmental engineering company, EA Engineering, Science and Technology Inc.
Company representative Darl Kolar focused on the success of three recent grants that were presented to the council in February and April.
The Hudson Branch Stormwater Project received major grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.
The FEMA grant included $165,000 and a matching requirement of 25 percent.
Berlin asked DNR for $3.8 million, submitting an application under Coastal and Atlantic Coastal Bay’s trust fund. Kolar said DNR was eager to work with the town, and approved funding of $946,000, with reimbursement including permit costs, design and construction phase services.
The trust fund awarded Berlin the maximum $800,000 grant, including reimbursements for permits, design and construction phase services. Under the grant, town employees and EA staff are required to attend additional training.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the town was trying to be a model for small communities dealing with stormwater issues.
Kolar said it helped that Berlin had already made stormwater improvements on West Street and had preliminary designs for future upgrades.
“They see so many applications … but they understand that this town is more than ready to do this,” Kolar said.
“They’re not worried because they know they didn’t put their money in Mayberry – they put it in Berlin,” Williams said. “Their standards are our standards.”
Kolar said the town had already done preliminary legwork to secure additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a possible safety net for additional stormwater upgrades, and would continue to seek additional funding during the construction phase.
Focusing on Flower Street, phase one includes the replacement of the existing culvert with a box culvert similar to channel improvements at West Street, as well as the opportunity for an offline wetland. Kolar said improvements were in a “highly visible and priority area” and would reduce flooding.
Phase two improvements, on Williams Street, would also replace existing culverts with box culverts and include channel improvements and the opportunity for two offline wetlands. Another high-priority and visibility area, upgrades would reduce flooding through a creation of confluence and improve overall water quality.
The final phase would center on Cedar, Franklin, Maple, Grice and Nelson streets and include significant replacement of underground infrastructure.
Kolar warned money could “get tight” during phase three because of unknown factors associated with those areas.
“During that period of time we may have to increase the maintenance part of Water Resources for the unexpected,” Williams said. “We might as well anticipate it – the chances are high, probably, that we’ll run into something. That doesn’t mean it can’t be overcome.”
The two-year period of grant funding requires the town to complete construction by summer 2016.
“We are on schedule – we are not behind,” said Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen.
Kolar, who began working on Berlin stormwater upgrades five years ago, said he would update the town on possible stabilization concerns within three weeks.
Company representative Darl Kolar focused on the success of three recent grants that were presented to the council in February and April.
The Hudson Branch Stormwater Project received major grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.
The FEMA grant included $165,000 and a matching requirement of 25 percent.
Berlin asked DNR for $3.8 million, submitting an application under Coastal and Atlantic Coastal Bay’s trust fund. Kolar said DNR was eager to work with the town, and approved funding of $946,000, with reimbursement including permit costs, design and construction phase services.
The trust fund awarded Berlin the maximum $800,000 grant, including reimbursements for permits, design and construction phase services. Under the grant, town employees and EA staff are required to attend additional training.
Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said the town was trying to be a model for small communities dealing with stormwater issues.
Kolar said it helped that Berlin had already made stormwater improvements on West Street and had preliminary designs for future upgrades.
“They see so many applications … but they understand that this town is more than ready to do this,” Kolar said.
“They’re not worried because they know they didn’t put their money in Mayberry – they put it in Berlin,” Williams said. “Their standards are our standards.”
Kolar said the town had already done preliminary legwork to secure additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a possible safety net for additional stormwater upgrades, and would continue to seek additional funding during the construction phase.
Focusing on Flower Street, phase one includes the replacement of the existing culvert with a box culvert similar to channel improvements at West Street, as well as the opportunity for an offline wetland. Kolar said improvements were in a “highly visible and priority area” and would reduce flooding.
Phase two improvements, on Williams Street, would also replace existing culverts with box culverts and include channel improvements and the opportunity for two offline wetlands. Another high-priority and visibility area, upgrades would reduce flooding through a creation of confluence and improve overall water quality.
The final phase would center on Cedar, Franklin, Maple, Grice and Nelson streets and include significant replacement of underground infrastructure.
Kolar warned money could “get tight” during phase three because of unknown factors associated with those areas.
“During that period of time we may have to increase the maintenance part of Water Resources for the unexpected,” Williams said. “We might as well anticipate it – the chances are high, probably, that we’ll run into something. That doesn’t mean it can’t be overcome.”
The two-year period of grant funding requires the town to complete construction by summer 2016.
“We are on schedule – we are not behind,” said Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen.
Kolar, who began working on Berlin stormwater upgrades five years ago, said he would update the town on possible stabilization concerns within three weeks.