By LAYLA HASTINGS
Eagle Times Staff
LUDLOW, Vt. — On Aug. 5, the Ludlow Selectboard heard citizens’ comments on flooding concerns regarding the summer hurricane season and the restoration of lower and upper West Hill, Jewell Brook Dam. They also discussed the town’s potential agreement with Okemo for temporary emergency housing services.
Ludlow Town Manager, Brendan McNamara said the cost was $750,000 to fix the dam.
Community member Jim O’Malley said he visited the site and was concerned that spillways and trenches were still in need of restoration.
He addressed the board asking them in lieu of funds not received from the federal government and further potential damage looming on the horizon if it was possible for the town to bypass the federal government and pitched the idea of community involvement to shore up West Hill.
“I just saw what happened up north [Middlebury flooding] and I just want to say 75 miles difference we would be in a very different situation. Do we think it’s practical to rely on an entity that’s in 35 trillion debt every day?” O’Malley asked.
McNamara agreed with O’Malley’s sentiment.
“The designs and approval for that work has been done. The reason this takes so long is we are at the mercy of the federal government. If we wanted to go ahead and find $750,000 to fix it, then it would be done. But the fact is this is [federal flood relief grant] 100% funding and the work is completely funded,” McNamara explained.
McNamara confirmed the federal funds would cover the entire restoration project.
O’Malley expanded on his suggestion by citing the close knit endeavors the Ludlow community completed in the wake of Hurricane Irene.
“I have talked to some old timers when Hurricane Irene happened and they didn’t wait. They went out and did it, and that’s the reason the recovery was so fast is because guys who had backhoes, dump trucks, they stepped up,” O’Malley elaborated. “I know those people are still here and they helped a lot of people through the last flooding [July 10, 2023] and I can’t help but think if we keep waiting for the federal government in the middle of hurricane season, we got relatives in the Carolinas and you know what’s going on down there, there’s nothing that says that can’t blow right up here.”
McNamara and the board acknowledged his concerns as he wrapped up his request with appreciation.
“I think it’s [the federal government] broken and maybe we should consider doing things on our own. Could we bypass the federal government? I understand if the answer is no and I understand, and I am glad it’s been approved and I appreciate the work being done,” O’Malley said.
Melissa Brockhill, during citizen’s comments, asked for an update about the emergency shelter contract between Okemo Mountain and the town.
“While we are on the issue of flooding, I know there was a MOU being constructed between the town and the mountain [Okemo] for shelter, maybe temporary housing in the event of another flood. Has that moved forward?” Brockhill asked.
McNamara said the MOU was being reviewed by the town attorney, and it was also going through the wheels of the legal process with Vail Resorts who purchased Okemo as part of an $82 million deal with Triple Peaks, LLC, which also operates Crested Butte and Mount Sunapee.
The next Ludlow selectboard meeting will be held on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. in Heald Auditorium.
