Responding to the concerns of some residents that recent construction at the Fremaux Town Center retail area in Slidell will exacerbate drainage problems in the nearby Lakewood Subdivision, a group of Slidell city officials visited the construction site this week to see for themselves. Their verdict: Construction crews have indeed blocked the flow of an outfall culvert south of...
Responding to the concerns of some residents that recent construction at the Fremaux Town Center retail area in Slidell will exacerbate drainage problems in the nearby Lakewood Subdivision, a group of Slidell city officials visited the construction site this week to see for themselves.
Their verdict: Construction crews have indeed blocked the flow of an outfall culvert south of Fremaux Avenue, but the officials appear to have little worry that it will prompt flooding in the area.
Slidell City Councilman Sam Caruso Councilman Sam Caruso, who represents the area, said the builders have pledged to remove any obstructions when severe weather threatens and also routinely remove the obstructions when they leave the job site each evening.
"They agreed to do whatever is necessary to improve the outfall of water on their property,'' Caruso said, adding the builders were responsive to the city's concerns.
The contractor, Richard Price Contracting, is doing some infrastructure work at the site of the Fremaux Town Center retail development. The center, which is south of Fremaux along Interstate 10, is being developed by Stirling Properties of Covington and CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn. Tenants for the first phase include Dick's Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Rack Room Shoes, PetSmart and T.J. Maxx.
The pace of construction work at the site has picked up in recent months and developers have said they plan to have the first stores open sometime next spring. The site is 400 acres, with 80 acres of retail.
Caruso said the builders told him, city engineer Donna O'Dell and Superintendent of Public Works Dan Yeates during a visit to the site Monday that this phase of their work should be wrapped up in the next two weeks.
"We went out there and it was blocking the culvert,'' Caruso said. "They have to block it to give themselves a dry field for work. That happens all the time.
"But you have to have a way to undo it - this company has that.''
Caruso said during a recent heavy rain he noticed water "coming up'' in some areas of Lakewood, where he lives. No homes were flooded, but he worried what might happen in the event of a heavy rain that lingered for several hours or more.
Tim Mathison, chief administrative officer for Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan, said the city has a good relationship with the contractor and is confident the impediments will be removed during bad weather and each night.
"Sam and Donna both were satisfied with (the company's) response,'' he said.
Caruso, meanwhile, said the city is moving along in its quest to replace a damaged culvert that helps drain Lakewood. He said the replacement project is currently in the design stage and FEMA has approved funding for it.