Posted on December 15, 2016
By Dave McMillion, Herald-Mail Media
Hagerstown City Park might get a Christmas gift in the form of an estimated $1 million contract to dredge the landmark’s lower lake.
The project is expected to deepen the waterway to a depth of up to 5 feet and perhaps lead to a greater variety of fish within it, city officials said.
But concerns have been raised over the project, including its cost and whether the dredging would alter water flows in the lake.
Despite the issues, a proposed contract for the work is to be considered by the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday.
If the contract is approved, work can begin next month and be completed by May, according to City Engineer Rodney Tissue.
During a work session Tuesday, Tissue recommended that the five-member council approve the low bid of $1,053,871 from Edwin A. & John O. Crandell Inc. of West River, Md., a firm that has completed more than 100 dredging projects.
Tissue has touted the dredging as a way to create a cleaner environment for the lake along Park Circle, open up possible new recreational opportunities, allow for easier operation of features such as water fountains and possibly lead to a greater variety of fish.
The lake is currently overpopulated with carp, but the greater depth will allow for cooler water temperatures and possibly new fish varieties, Tissue has said.
He said the lake needs to be dredged because accumulation of debris such as leaves, soil erosion from the banks and waterfowl waste have caused its water depth to shrink as low as 6 inches.
Sediment that is dug out of the lake will be taken to the Forty West Landfill and used for daily cover. It will require 1,600 dump truck loads to get to the depth project designers want, Tissue said.
Councilman Kristin B. Aleshire raised several concerns, including whether dredging up against a stone wall in the lake will affect its structural integrity.
Aleshire said he is also concerned whether dredging will alter the pattern of water sources feeding the lake.
But Tissue said workers will not dredge up against the lake’s stone wall. Dredging will be conducted out from the wall, which will also create a “safety bench” underwater in case anyone falls in, he said.
As for water-flow patterns, he emphasized that the contractor will only be removing sediment that has built up in the lake over the last 100 years.
“Like a quarry is excavating into the virgin Earth, we’re not doing that,” Tissue said.
New Councilman Paul D. Corderman pointed to the cost of the work.
“I’m not against City Park. I love City Park,” he said.
Councilman Lewis C. Metzner said the work will have to be done, whether now or later.
Emphasizing the need to be careful with money, Mayor Robert E. Bruchey questioned whether the city could get away with only dredging to a level of 3 feet.
But considering the setup costs and preparations for the project, Tissue said the first cubic yard that is removed will cost about $333,000. Every cubic yard removed after that will only cost $40, he said.
Source: Herald-Mail Media
