There were plenty of questions and comments during Thursday’s Lake Mitchell update at the Mitchell Indigenous Archeological site. Eric Lund of Barr Engineering began with a project overview and progress in gaining the necessary state and federal permits.
A downstream landowner on the James River expressed concerns regarding lack of notification of when there’s a water quality alert.
Mayor Jordan Hanson addressed the issue. “In those governing bodies, the Army Corps, the Department of Natural Resources, it is their responsibility to contact everyone downstream,” said Hanson. “If they didn’t do that, that’s kind of out of our control, I understand. I understand your frustration totally, but we’re just following the rules set in place, which maybe you don’t agree with, totally understand, but we can only follow the rules in the playbook that we were given.”
He invited anyone who requested notifications to leave their contact information with city staff to have it added to the city’s list.
Other topics covered included the dredging project itself, a timeline, concerns regarding odor when the spoils are added at Firesteel Park, and future lake maintenance.