CLARKESVILLE — Even as the Clarkesville City Council is beginning the process of rebuilding downtown after a devastating fire, another city-owned building is experiencing repeated flooding.
The Clarkesville Public Safety Building, which formerly served as Clarkesville City Hall, has flooded several times during recent rains. Currently, the police department is operating out of a mobile office trailer located outside.
The finished floor elevation of the building, bordered by Adams, Green and East Water streets and located behind the Mauldin House and Mauldin Gardens, is located lower than the surrounding ground.
Monday, night the council heard from representatives of its insurance provider, as well as Parker Young Construction, and Boundary Zone Inc.
"I guess everybody knows that the police department has been flooded," said Steve Macon of Parker Young Construction. "We fixed it numerous times.
"I guess this last time sort of broke the ice where the insurance company is wanting to come in and help assist the city in correcting the problem so it doesn't continue to happen anymore," Macon said. "The building itself, including the fire department, is below grade. Water is coming in from all sides and several streets. The drains that are in place are inadequate, even the drains and so forth around the perimeter in the streets are inadequate. There's curbs not in place. There's a number of issues that are causing this water to flood into the police department and in some areas into the fire department."
Some of the proposed solutions to the flooding problems include the following recommendations:
* Increase the side of the pipe leading under East Water Street to accommodate a 100-year rain event.
* Add curb and gutter to redirect the water flow past the site and into an inlet structure located on the curbing system.
* Place a commercial concrete apron at the entrance to the gravel parking area located between the public safety building and the Mauldin House and Mauldin Gardens.
* Construct an underground detention facility to temporarily hold water.
* Install curb and gutter system along East Green Street to prevent overflow into the parking area.
The recommendation that raised the most concern from council members was the removal of existing trees in the gravel parking area to allow the installation of a retaining wall.
Councilwoman Leigh Johnston questioned the need to remove nearly a dozen trees.
Macon said the recommendation would affect "only like five or six."
Councilman Franklin Brown said he favors spending money on city-owned property across East Water Street to make improvements there as the water leaves the site and heads toward the Soque River.
"It sounds like maybe we need to spend a little quality time going over this at the work session," Johnston said.
Because of their concerns, the city council agreed to hold a site visit at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, to discuss with contractors their proposals and recommendations for resolving the water concerns.
The council then will discuss how to remedy the problem during its work session at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18.
