News

July 17, 2008

County hoping for more flood project money

$3 million for levee, $5.5 million for other projects approved in committee.

Even if U.S. Sens. Robert Casey and Arlen Specter are able to secure the $3 million for the Wyoming Valley levee system that they’re promising, Jim Brozena will still be looking for the other $9 million he has requested.

“This will be the second year in a row that we don’t get the funds that we need,” the county Flood Protection Authority executive director said. “Obviously, we’re grateful for the money we can get, but … we’re hopeful that during the conference committee, they’re able to increase that number.”

The authority is looking for $4 million for flood-mitigation programs for down-stream communities, $5 million for flood-prevention construction projects and $3 million for various projects, including design and construction projects on Toby and Solomon creeks, levee certification and administrative costs, Brozena said.

“The big problem,” he said, is that $3 million likely won’t cover any single construction project, so no projects will be able to be completed.

Casey, D-Scranton, and Specter, R-Philadelphia, announced Monday that the $3 million, along with about $5.5 million for other local water infrastructure projects, had made it through the appropriations committee on a water and energy appropriations bill. The Lackawanna River Flood Control Project would receive $4.782 million for a project in Scranton and $774,000 would go to operate and maintain the Francis E. Walter Dam in Carbon County.

The bill must still be approved by the Senate, the House and signed by the president before the money is available.

Casey spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff blamed the reduced funding on partisan politics.

“Once again, President Bush’s budget cut domestic spending across the board, which has reduced the amount of funding available for important projects like the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project,” she noted in an e-mail. The project is, however, one of Casey’s “top priorities,” according to Barkoff, and she said Casey would make a continued effort to get the project completed in “as timely a manner as possible.”

Rory Sweeney, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 970-7418.

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