Letters to the Editor
In response
On Sunday, June 13, The Graham Leader ran a letter to the editor piece titled “Snakes.” The letter was submitted by a resident of Graham, Ann Davis, who has experienced problems with snakes on her property. The letter suggests that the presence of snakes may be linked to the overgrown condition of several properties in the 200 block of Second Street. Ms. Davis’ letter stated that the overgrown properties are owned by the Brazos River Authority and that requests by the city of Graham to mow the properties have been met with no response by the authority.
Both the city of Graham and the Brazos River Authority have received numerous complaints over the last several months regarding the maintenance of properties located within the city that were deeded to the authority as part of the city of Graham Flood Protection Project. We agree with Ms. Davis that maintenance standards set by the city should be enforced equally for all property owners including the Brazos River Authority. However, circumstances sometimes create unanticipated consequences for both individual citizens and governmental agencies. In this instance, while the authority holds title to the properties, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the properties, under the terms of the city of Graham Flood Protection Project.
We would like to take this opportunity to provide the citizens of Graham with information about these properties and the project that has led to the current maintenance issues.
City of Graham Flood
Protection Project
Longtime residents of Graham may remember extensive flooding events that occurred along Salt Creek in 1978 and again in 1990, leaving a large area within the city under water. As a result, the city and the authority requested that the Corps of Engineers conduct a study on how best to manage the potential for future flood events.
The study found that a portion of the city located between Pecan Street and Salt Creek fell within a 10-year floodplain. Properties on Shawnee Street and Shawnee Springs Park, as well as the area within the block bounded by North Cherry Street and Newcastle Highway were also identified as a 10-year floodplain. As a result, the study recommended instituting a project that would relocate residents and commercial businesses in these areas.
The United States Congress authorized the Salt Creek, Graham, Texas Project, as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999. The Fort Worth District Office of the Corps of Engineers was appointed as the federal agency with responsibility for administration and management of the project. The project also required the Brazos River Authority to participate as the “non-federal sponsor” providing partial funding to the Corps for project implementation.
In 2004, the authority signed a project cooperation agreement prepared by Corps that included the scope of the project and established each party’s responsibilities. The PCA is a standard Corps agreement that broadly describes the scope of the project and the required financial support obligation of the sponsor. An additional agreement authorized the Corps’ Fort Worth Real Estate Division to acquire properties in the project area on the behalf of the authority.
The agreements both stipulate that the authority provide the Corps with 35 percent of the projected cost of property acquisition in advance. The Corps is to draw from those funds for property acquisition and relocation of residents. The acquired properties are then deeded to the authority; however, as is standard with these agreements, the project itself is coordinated, conducted and managed entirely by the Corps of Engineers. The management of the project includes maintenance of the acquired properties until completion of the project, which includes mowing and upkeep of purchased lots.
The authority has advanced more than $3.6 million to the Corps specifically for property acquisition and relocation for this project. With these funds, the Corps has purchased approximately 58 residential properties including 60 structures. Though the authority has acquired the deeds to these properties as part of the project, according to the PCA, the responsibility for all maintenance, including mowing, remains with the Corps. The Corps has utilized federal funds for the demolition and removal of the majority of these structures.
Unfortunately, the Corps has not received federal funding the past few years for this project. The result of the shrinking budget has slowed project progress and made it increasingly difficult to properly maintain the overgrown lots.
It is important to the authority that the citizens of Graham understand that we have a shared concern for maintaining these lots. We are aware that they have become an eyesore and could promote an ideal environment for mosquitoes, rodents and snakes.
The authority has remained in contact with the city on the problem of overgrown property and code enforcement. The city is aware of the ongoing federal project and understands that it is the responsibility of the Corps to mow and maintain these lots.
The good news is that the Corps has received funding this fiscal year and money is now available to take proper care of the overgrown lots. In fact, the Corps has advised us that plans are in place now to mow these lots by mid-July and sufficient funding is in place to continue maintenance over the next year.
It is difficult to determine when the project will be concluded, as progress is ultimately dependent on obtaining additional federal funds.
Please visit the Brazos River Authority Web site at www.brazos.org for a map of the project area. Residents who have questions about the status of specific properties within the project area may contact the Corps of Engineers at (817) 886-1306 or the Brazos River Authority at (254) 761-3100.
Judi Pierce
Brazos River Authority
In response
On Sunday, June 13, The Graham Leader ran a letter to the editor piece titled “Snakes.” The letter was submitted by a resident of Graham, Ann Davis, who has experienced problems with snakes on her property. The letter suggests that the presence of snakes may be linked to the overgrown condition of several properties in the 200 block of Second Street. Ms. Davis’ letter stated that the overgrown properties are owned by the Brazos River Authority and that requests by the city of Graham to mow the properties have been met with no response by the authority.
Both the city of Graham and the Brazos River Authority have received numerous complaints over the last several months regarding the maintenance of properties located within the city that were deeded to the authority as part of the city of Graham Flood Protection Project. We agree with Ms. Davis that maintenance standards set by the city should be enforced equally for all property owners including the Brazos River Authority. However, circumstances sometimes create unanticipated consequences for both individual citizens and governmental agencies. In this instance, while the authority holds title to the properties, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining the properties, under the terms of the city of Graham Flood Protection Project.
We would like to take this opportunity to provide the citizens of Graham with information about these properties and the project that has led to the current maintenance issues.
City of Graham Flood
Protection Project
Longtime residents of Graham may remember extensive flooding events that occurred along Salt Creek in 1978 and again in 1990, leaving a large area within the city under water. As a result, the city and the authority requested that the Corps of Engineers conduct a study on how best to manage the potential for future flood events.
The study found that a portion of the city located between Pecan Street and Salt Creek fell within a 10-year floodplain. Properties on Shawnee Street and Shawnee Springs Park, as well as the area within the block bounded by North Cherry Street and Newcastle Highway were also identified as a 10-year floodplain. As a result, the study recommended instituting a project that would relocate residents and commercial businesses in these areas.
The United States Congress authorized the Salt Creek, Graham, Texas Project, as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999. The Fort Worth District Office of the Corps of Engineers was appointed as the federal agency with responsibility for administration and management of the project. The project also required the Brazos River Authority to participate as the “non-federal sponsor” providing partial funding to the Corps for project implementation.
In 2004, the authority signed a project cooperation agreement prepared by Corps that included the scope of the project and established each party’s responsibilities. The PCA is a standard Corps agreement that broadly describes the scope of the project and the required financial support obligation of the sponsor. An additional agreement authorized the Corps’ Fort Worth Real Estate Division to acquire properties in the project area on the behalf of the authority.
The agreements both stipulate that the authority provide the Corps with 35 percent of the projected cost of property acquisition in advance. The Corps is to draw from those funds for property acquisition and relocation of residents. The acquired properties are then deeded to the authority; however, as is standard with these agreements, the project itself is coordinated, conducted and managed entirely by the Corps of Engineers. The management of the project includes maintenance of the acquired properties until completion of the project, which includes mowing and upkeep of purchased lots.
The authority has advanced more than $3.6 million to the Corps specifically for property acquisition and relocation for this project. With these funds, the Corps has purchased approximately 58 residential properties including 60 structures. Though the authority has acquired the deeds to these properties as part of the project, according to the PCA, the responsibility for all maintenance, including mowing, remains with the Corps. The Corps has utilized federal funds for the demolition and removal of the majority of these structures.
Unfortunately, the Corps has not received federal funding the past few years for this project. The result of the shrinking budget has slowed project progress and made it increasingly difficult to properly maintain the overgrown lots.
It is important to the authority that the citizens of Graham understand that we have a shared concern for maintaining these lots. We are aware that they have become an eyesore and could promote an ideal environment for mosquitoes, rodents and snakes.
The authority has remained in contact with the city on the problem of overgrown property and code enforcement. The city is aware of the ongoing federal project and understands that it is the responsibility of the Corps to mow and maintain these lots.
The good news is that the Corps has received funding this fiscal year and money is now available to take proper care of the overgrown lots. In fact, the Corps has advised us that plans are in place now to mow these lots by mid-July and sufficient funding is in place to continue maintenance over the next year.
It is difficult to determine when the project will be concluded, as progress is ultimately dependent on obtaining additional federal funds.
Please visit the Brazos River Authority Web site at www.brazos.org for a map of the project area. Residents who have questions about the status of specific properties within the project area may contact the Corps of Engineers at (817) 886-1306 or the Brazos River Authority at (254) 761-3100.
Judi Pierce
Brazos River Authority