Berwick gets grant for flood project

BERWICK — The rain from another flash flood event had barely ended Tuesday when Berwick Mayor Duval Arthur announced a state grant to improve drainage in one of the town’s flood-prone areas.
Another grant, this one from the state, took a decade to make its way to Berwick, but it will soon put some new sidewalks in town.
Also at its meeting Tuesday, the Town Council recognized a group of ministers who are working with the Police Department to offer counseling in time of need.
Drainage grant
The state grant for $1.6 million will go to improve drainage along Hebert, Jones, Palmer and Hogan streets in Country Club Estates Subdivision. The work represents the most expensive piece of flood control measures identified after the April and June 2019 flash flooding pushed water into subdivision homes.
Thirty-nine subdivision residents reported water in their homes after the June flooding that year.
The remedies identified after the 2019 flooding included improving drainage ditches and installing storm sewers.
“We’ll be moving forward with (drainage improvements) as soon as we get the paperwork in,” Arthur said.
Sidewalk grant
Berwick successfully applied for a $175,000 grant for sidewalk improvements in 2011. But the town government never received the money from the state’s sometimes balky appropriation process.
Town officials stayed on the trail and, this week, a state legislative committee cleared the way to send the money to Berwick.
The money will pay for sidewalk work along portions of Oregon, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets.
Critical
Response
Team
Assistant Police Chief JP Henry introduced six clergymen who are volunteer members of a Critical Response Team. Their purpose is to offer counseling and spiritual support to people affected by incidents such as vehicle accidents or fires. They’re also available to talk with police officers.
The team members, all members of the local ministerial alliance, are Steve Manville and Marty Harden of Bethel Pentecostal Fellowship, Tommy Fromenthal and Herb Stanley of Cornerstone Ministries, Mo Seneca of Lighthouse Community Church, and Steve Porter, a pastor at Methodist churches in Berwick and Patterson.
The council passed a resolution recognizing the work of team members.
New roof
Work on the new roof at Town Hall left the building vulnerable to flooding last week, leading to the closure of Town Hall on Friday.
But the work goes on, replacing a leak-prone flat roof that is nearly 70 years old with a $298,000 peaked roof. B&J Enterprises of Metairie is the contractor. The council awarded the contract in February.
The council voted Tuesday to make the first payment of $47,680 to B&J.
Tax rates
The council passed ordinances setting the property tax rates and the drainage fee for 2021.
The property taxes will remain at 12.88 mills for the general fund and 6.38 mills for a variety of purposes including recreation, public works and police facilities.
A mill is 1/10th cent of tax applied to each dollar of assessed valuation. Residential property is assessed at 10% of its market value.
The drainage fee will remain at $25 per acre. That fee raises about $75,000 a year for spending on drainage work.