Horse Brook restoration debacle

[Stonefly]

This guy is even dumber than you think, because under the FEMA rules thaty will only pay the cost of the exsiting structure 15,000 and if the local laws were changed and a 300,000+ bridge is needed, then they get the 15,000 replacement cost from FEMA towards the bridge...the US Government is pretty stupid, but not that stupid. Also under FEMA, they will look at the turn down of the bridge as a negitive to replacing anything at all.

Look what happened in Sparta when all the dams blew out back in 2000, the state and county wanted major upgrades to the road and bridges, but they had to apply for grants as FEMA only came up with the costs to replace the roads, culverts and bridges as they were existing at the time of the flooding. It took three years to get everything replaced and repaired and upgraded.

Originally Posted by brachycentrus

The $15,000 figure he is quoting is for replacement of the existing two culvert structure.

Homovich recieved a letter from the DEC region 4 Director saying that the existing culvert structure would no longer be allowed and that a replacement structure as proposed would be what is required.

That is why it is so insane. If the town passes on this and a flood takes it out, then the town is now responsible to do the same work that it could presently recieve for free.

The town of Colchester board approved this measure back in July, 5-0. After all of the permits were obtained and monies and contractors lined up. Homovich decided not to allow it to go forward.

I think that the only portion that the town was going to be on the hook for was the labor to drive pilings and crane rental. Homovich cried that the town doesnt have the money to pay for this expense which he estimated at $25,000, then an anonymous donor wrote a check for that amount to cover the towns expense.