By Staff
If the Army Corps of Engineers' figures are in order, their proposed levee for Brewton would save the residents and industry of the city millions of dollars over time.
Without the levee, every rainy season presents the risk of flooding from Murder Creek and Burnt Corn Creek, damage to the production of highly valuable industry, and significant damage to the economy of this area.
Concerned citizens of East Brewton wonder if a levee that deflects flood water from downtown Brewton would mean an increased flooding hazard across the creek, but the Corps assures that they can't proceed with any project that would compromise or cause more damage in East Brewton without mitigating for it.
At this stage of planning, we'll see several years before a levee can be a reality. It's a time for everyone who could be affected by flood damage or the construction of a levee to voice their concerns to the Corps and to seek understanding of what it will mean for the city governments, businesses and people of both Brewton and East Brewton.
Tuesday's public meeting was a start, and we hope that there are more opportunities like that as the plan for a levee progresses toward reality.