Milan receives grant to fix flooding problems
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MILAN, Tenn. — Although federal aid is not available for this weekend’s flood damage, the city of Milan does have other assistance coming in. A new state grant hopefully will allow them to prevent flooding events such as this weekend from happening again. The city received a $250,000 grant late last week. They said it is going to target three major areas around the city that are prone to flooding, and residents say they hope it keeps the rain at bay. “This weekend was probably the worst rain that I’ve ever seen in this neighborhood before,” resident Fred Beasley said. Milan residents such as Beasley said flood waters have always been an issue in some parts of the city. “In 2011 we had a big 400-year storm,” Mayor Chris Crider said. “We realized then that there were places that we could improve.” Now, with the help of a state grant, Crider said they are ready to say goodbye to the high water once and for all. “We found out about it on Wednesday, then we had the events this weekend,” Crider said. “We hate the bad timing, but we’re hiring the engineers very soon and getting them started.” Crider said the grant will be used to rebuild culverts and build drainage ponds to prevent water from getting to flood-prone areas. “What we hope to do is work upstream,” Crider said. “Capture water here in a retention area and keep it from ever entering our problem spots in town.” From flooding at the Milan General Hospital to waters rushing through yards on Dolly Tom Drive, Crider said these areas are the first on the list. “We do have a problem further on up the line with two small culverts that feed this big culvert down here,” Beasley said. “If that was replaced I don’t think we’d have any water down here.” For residents like Byron Burns, who just purchased his home on Dolly Tom Drive, it could not come at a better time. “I’m glad the problem is going to get fixed and get nipped in the bud before it gets to be more than what it has been,” Burns said. Crider said the city currently does not have a timeline on when construction would start but said engineers will be setting up a plan this summer.
