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WILKES-BARRE — The petition John Magda offered to circulate among Parsons residents to demand a cleanup of Laurel Run Creek won’t be needed right now.
Trees and vegetation have sprouted from the creek bed and walls channeling the creek through the neighborhood, and residents worry it will lead to flooding if not taken care of. City officials have looked at it and plan to do some clearing work there next week.
“We can’t remember the last time it was dredged or the trees cut down,” Magda said.
The city did extensive work on the walls 10 years ago after flash flooding in November 2006 damaged homes and property. Sections of the wall that was built in the 1940s were washed away as the water topped the bridge on Scott Street and rushed onto Mineral and Oliver streets.
Magda said the overgrowth in the creek bed has been getting worse since the 2007 construction.
“We want them to clean it out. If (Mayor Tony George) wants a petition, we’ll get him one,” Magda said.
That won’t be necessary, George said Wednesday. Most of the city’s recent focus has been on Solomon Creek. And thanks to a bond deal, Wilkes-Barre has $4.4 million available for reconstruction of sections of the Solomon wall that are probably just as old as the ones along Laurel Run Creek.
“It doesn’t flood there like Solomon Creek. That’s the priority,” George said.
“I understand that, but how about us,” Magda responded.
Butch Frati, director of operations for the city, said the solution isn’t as easy as getting rid of the trees. “You just can’t take out the trees because the roots are embedded in the wall,” he explained.
City crews will be on site next week to get started on the job, Frati said.
That was reassuring to Magda. “They’re now aware of it,” he said.