The city of Emporia is continuing behind-the-scenes work to resolve significant drainage issues in northwest Emporia.
Discussions about the Becker Addition, and notably the Coronado Stream, have been part of City Commission agendas for years now. The latest phase of work involves the city’s consulting engineer, BG Consultants, conducting “intermittent” field surveys through the middle of July. This will include getting into back yards to determine the scope of issues on a property-by-property basis.
On KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Tuesday, City Engineer Jim Ubert said the city is working with the Environmental Protection Agency and the US Army Corps of Engineers to determine exactly what can be done to alleviate the issues. A lot hinges on the different permits Emporia could receive for potential work.
Speaking of options, Ubert says there are several for eventual changes.
The Becker Addition includes areas between Interstate 35 and 30th Avenue and along and east of Prairie Street to the Neosho River. Ubert says there are numerous ongoing concerns, including bank erosion, city utilities, and franchise utilities. The permit process has had several changes, in part with the area included, removed, and again included in the federal Waters of the United States designation and also a change in presidential administration from Donald Trump to Joe Biden.
