Posted on July 26, 2018
Dredging Wilson Morgan Lake is the top priority of a park improvements list presented earlier this week to a city advisory board, but the proposed project might not make it to the Decatur City Council’s priority list.
One hangup could be the $2.37 million cost.
Don Gowen, a vocal proponent of Wilson Morgan Park, presented his priority list to fellow members of the Parks and Recreation board Tuesday. He said the list comes from a survey he said he did of park users and Parks and Recreation employees.
Board Chairman Lynn Fowler tabled Gowen’s suggestions so members could review them and cost estimates could be obtained.
Gowen said the lake is a “valuable asset for its recreational purposes.” He said dredging would allow for fishing and the use of rowboats or kayaks on the lake; a lower trail closer to the lake could be added; park users could enjoy bird-watching; and the aesthetics of the lake would be improved for those who are using the walking trail or just the park.
The park is in City Councilman Charles Kirby’s District 4. He wants the silt removed from the lake. As the silt fills the lake, it brings the lake bottom closer to the water surface. This makes it easier for plant life to get more light and grow, and reduces oxygen content, but it becomes more difficult for fish and other aquatic life to survive.
“If we don’t dredge it, it will become a swamp,” Kirby said.
Gowen said in an email he believes Wilson Morgan “has been the stepchild in funding and renovation for years.” He said he was told the desired enhancements for the lake area could not be accomplished until it is dredged.
“You couldn’t float a row boat if you have less than a foot of water or aquatic growth covering the entire lake like we had this last year,” Gowen said.
Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Dunlap said his department sprayed the lake with a topical treatment of herbicide last year that worked quickly but not as well as he would have liked. Gowen said the plant life in the lake is worse this year.
“We’re doing a deep-water treatment this summer,” Dunlap said. “It costs more, but it should be more effective.”
Kirby argued the city should take care of the lake like it takes care of its other amenities.
However, the City Council appears only to be considering improvements to the lake’s usefulness in controlling flooding in Southeast and Southwest Decatur.
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On Monday at 5 p.m., the council plans to discuss a flooding report that it paid Blake McAnally, of Pugh, Wright, McAnally Engineering Services $30,000 last year to conduct.
The McAnally report focused on recommendations to alleviate flooding issues in Southeast and Southwest Decatur. The recommendations include creating flood plains and other corrective actions, such as refurbishing the pump at the lake’s control weir and removing boards from the weir when a storm threatens.
The report also included McAnally’s opinion on dredging the lake, which he estimated would cost $2.37 million. McAnally said dredging would have a minimal impact on flood control.
Councilwoman Kristi Hill said dredging the lake “for any other purpose other than controlling flooding is another conversation. We’ll be talking about what’s best to do about flooding and drainage” Monday.
Kirby disagreed, saying the dredging should be included in Monday’s discussion because it should be a part of a bond issue that would fund all of McAnally’s suggested improvements.
The council paid off a $2.5 million bond warrant recently and is in position to go to the bond market again soon, Chief Financial Officer John Andrzejewski said.
“We’ve got a lot of big-ticket items like a fire house and other capital needs, so it really depends on what and how much we want to finance,” Andrzejewski said.
Bibbee said her priority is correcting the flooding issue around Brookmeade Road near Country Club Road in Southeast Decatur, which McAnally estimated would cost $433,366. This area is in her District 3.
Bibbee said she would not support dredging the lake or refurbishing the pump. She said a closer examination of the pump showed it would not last long even after refurbishment.
“The pump would need to be replaced and that would cost $75,00 to $80,000,” Bibbee said.
Bibbee said she would support adding four or five fountains because they provide aeration for the aquatics life while looking nice for the park.
Kirby said aeration with the fountains would have no impact if the lake is so low that it turns into a swamp.
Gowen’s list also includes renovations of the press boxes, restrooms and tennis courts. He said the playground has a sand surface but needs a rubberized surface to make it safer.
The batting cages need to be replaced with new batting cages or a skateboard park, although Gowen acknowledged there is concern that skateboard parks can attract users who cause “trouble and vandalism.”
Dunlap said the soccer/football field needs a new 10-foot fence to stop people from jumping the shorter fence when the park is closed.
Source: DecaturDaily.com
