Eclectic Observer THURSDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2015
TheWetumpkaHerald.com
Vol. 26, No. 53
More input needed in revitalization plan
By CARMEN RODGERS Staff Writer
Alan Axford, a planner and analyst for Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, stood before the town council and several Eclectic residents in October to present Eclectic’s comprehensive development plan. In this plan, Axford explained where Eclectic currently stands in the area of community development and where the projected future will take the city. Since that meeting, there has been much talk, but little action taken to move forward with the comprehensive plan. However, there is good reason for the delay. Members of the Industrial Development Board and the
planning commission would like more public input in order to better suit the comprehensive plan. “Last month they (the industrial development board) went through an extensive evaluation of the comprehensive plan,” said Gary Davenport, mayor of Eclectic. “Planning commission did the same thing last month. What we have decided to do is extend out our comprehensive plan for probably another three months to get some public input.” Originally, surveys were placed at various businesses around town for people to fill out and return, he said. The new surveys will be Carmen Rodgers / The Observer available online. Above, a diagram of the comprehensive development plan presented by a “We are in the process of creating another planner and analyst for the Central Alabama Regional Planning and DevelopSee REVITALIZATION • Page 3 ment Commision.
Work continues to address closed roads
County making progress with flood issues By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
Several roads that were closed due to the recent rainfall and flash flooding have reopened around the county. Currently, six roads are either closed until further notice or indefinitely in the county. “Our county highway department has certainly taken the biggest toll on dam- Jones ages to the infrastructure, along with the city of Wetumpka with some of their roads and some of their banks and slopes, ” said Eric Jones, Elmore County Emergency Management Agency director. “We also have some water systems, entral Elmore Water and Sewer Authority and the Holtville water system … those water systems have had impacts to their systems, as well.” Jones said Central Elmore had some lines that were damaged along with where those roads were washed out and both Elmore Water Authority and Holtville water had lightening strikes that caused severe outages and severe damage to their systems and had to replace large sections of their mains. See FLOODS• Page 2
Today’s
Weather
58 45 High
Low
FRIDAY: HIGH 49 LOW 37
By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
Cliff Williams / The Observer
Onlookers survey the damage at Holley Mill Road after the flash floods swept through Elmore County Christmas Eve.
The outlook for opening up more of the roads closed due to the flash floods that swept across Elmore County Christmas Eve is positive, but there are still roads left to be assessed. “I think we are close to opening two of the three sites that are closed,” said Richie Beyer, Elmore County engineer. “County roads … Holley Mill Road will stay closed indefinitely … we’re still doing damage assessments and costs on that.” Holley Mill Road between Landers Swink Road and state Route 63 will remain closed indefinitely due a portion of the road completely gone. Old Rifle Range Road, once some of the water has receded and clean-up work done, will reopen at some point. “The little bit of closure we had over on Old Rifle Range Road was caused by the river swelling and backing up on the dirt road and haven’t really had any problem with that,” See ROADS• Page 2
AEMA director: State may be able to request FEMA assistance By JOHN W. PEELER Managing Editor
If the state is able to meet the Federal Emergency Management Agency threshold, Elmore County could benefit from some disaster relief funds to help in its cleanup and repair efforts due to results of recent weather. Alabama Emergency Management Agency Director Art Faulkner met with Elmore County and city officials from across the Faulkner county Wednesday at the Elmore County Emergency Operations Center to present a briefing on the public assistance process
with regards to the recent flash flooding and storms across the county. Faulkner, who lives in Elmore and is a former director of Elmore County E-911, said it has been a long time since people have seen the river as high as it is, referring to the swelling of the river during the April 27, 2011 tornadoes that ripped across the state. “This is not a quick process on flooding like those tornadoes were,” Faulkner said. Faulkner told officials from every agency what they are doing now and next week will go a long way toward determining if the state may be able to request Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance for public infrastructure and governmental entities. He also said the agency is continuing to work on the individual assistance. “We are concerned about some of these roads, bridges and other infrastructure … waste water treatment plants and others that
have been flooded as a result of the torrential rain,” Faulkner said. “ … If you look at the radar today, that (weather) could impact your facilities … what you can do to help is get the information we need to get back to FEMA.” Faulkner said to meet the FEMA threshold, which is set by Congress and the Stafford Act, the state would have to meet about a $6.7 to $7 million threshold. “I try and say about a $7 million threshold to give us a little bit of wiggle room,” he said. “When FEMA comes in they will look at that damage, and that’s what we’ve got to meet for me to recommend to the governor that he request assistance from FEMA from out state. So, that’s going to take a little while.” Faulkner said some of the information that’s needed is still not known until the damage assessments are completed, which See AEMA • Page 3