Grundy Town Council members agreed to take a closer look at a proposed extension of the newly constructed wall behind the Grundy Farmers Market before deciding whether to move forward with the project.
Town Manager Dennis Ramey presented the proposal during the council’s Aug. 11 meeting. The wall is located behind the farmers market at the mouth of Hoot Owl in Grundy.
Ramey said the town previously extended the lower section of the wall when money remained available from the original project. The town is now considering adding approximately 50 feet to the wall and constructing another column at its end.
The proposed addition would extend toward a road that runs down an incline behind the nearby building. Ramey said Terra Tech Engineering Firm estimated that the work would cost approximately $10,000.
According to Ramey, the extension would help enclose and protect more of the area while still leaving an opening between the end of the wall and the nearby building. That opening would provide an outlet for water and preserve access to the area.
Ramey said money remaining in a recreation fund or from previous grant funding may be available to complete the project.
Council member Rebecca Elkins, who owns the building beside the farmers market, expressed concern about how the additional wall could affect the direction floodwater travels through the area.
Ramey said he did not believe the extension would direct water toward Elkins’ building. He said water would likely follow the nearby ramp and travel through the opening between the wall and building. He also noted that the wall could help prevent trees, brush and other debris from washing against the building during a flood.
However, officials acknowledged that floodwater can be unpredictable and may not always follow an expected path.
Rather than make an immediate decision based only on photographs of the property, council members agreed to visit the location and examine the proposed extension in person before their next meeting. The matter was tabled until members have an opportunity to see the site and better understand the potential impact.
During the remainder of his report, Ramey briefly updated the council on other town matters. He said activity at the community center had declined from approximately 2,200 tickets sold in June to 1,800 tickets sold in July.
