Armstrong mayor frustrated over flood prevention

Mar 26, 2018 | 8:54 AM

ARMSTRONG  — Armstrong’s mayor is voicing his frustration with the process of trying to reduce the flood risk in creeks.

Meighan Creek went over its banks Friday after a rain storm, causing flooding at a seniors facility and some homes.

Chris Pieper says the city has been planning to do mitigation work on the creek after last spring’s flooding.

“We’ve done assessments. We got an environmental management plan completed but the whole process of being able to work and dredge a creek is very cumbersome.”

Pieper doesn’t cast any specific blame, but he says the current system is unmanageable for local governments, and for residents living along creeks.

“For a lot of the right reasons because of flagrant creek damage, you know, fifty years ago, but the system now has got unmanageable for local governments or for people living along creeks to do anything whatsoever.”

Pieper says he doesn’t blame any government, or person in particular, but he would like to see changes to streamline the process.