Oxford Causeway During Storm/Tidal Flooding
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One topic dominated a majority of the Oxford town meeting last Tuesday night: flooding.
After initial reports from maintenance and the police department, the Commissioners began discussing the plan for handling flooding throughout town. Matt Ozman, Maintenance Supervisor for the town, shared the town had already had thirty-two inches of rain this year. The yearly average is 40.
Earlier this year citizens questioned the Strand Beach Restoration Project which was being presented as a way to stop flooding on the Strand and at the Condominiums and parking lot nearby. They wondered why this particular section of the town was being targeted when flooding is much worse in other areas (the Causeway, Tilghman Street, Pier Street, and Bank Street.)
There were various explanations; there wasn't enough money, the flooding problems had been corrected, and the State wouldn't support solutions to the Causeway flooding.
During the town meeting on Tuesday, March 26th, the town reversed position. They brought in a local engineering firm, GMB, from Salisbury. The firm explained different solutions to Oxford's Flooding. Specifically, pages 25, 26, and 27 show proposed locations for new pumps to remove flood waters:
Presentation title goes here (oxfordmd.net)
On Tuesday, April 9th, the Commissioners discussed these solutions and the funding available to finally address the flooding problem. They focused on three areas: Mill Street, Pier Street, and Caroline Street. (The third one named was not included in GMB's recommendations as water does not flood into people's homes.)
As the discussion continued, the consensus was that something needed to be done. Commissioner Katrina Greer suggested that they make absolutely sure that decisions made will the "right ones" ensuring that money spent would actually provide "best outcomes." The projects would be funded from the town's ARPA funds (American Rescue Plan).
President of the Commissioners, Tom Costigan, pushed for the Caroline Street area "which is essentially the entry into town." He was also concerned that the flooding at Caroline and Morris Street would cut off the town from car traffic. " We have people driving through standing water as they come swinging across from the causeway."
Greer mentioned that there have already been two people who have sold their houses in the Pier Street/Willows Avenue area, implying that the flooding had something to do with those sales. "It may not be pretty, but it (this section of town) is important."
Appointed Commissioner Botkin then suggested that we move this from a "problem" to a "nuisance" as suggested by the engineer from GMB. " We can't just sit and study the problem."
At the end of the discussion, the decision was made to move forward with the locations of pumps at Caroline Street and Pier Street while investigating the options of Mill and Bank Streets as well and put all four in the budget, which would run about $850,000. It was also mentioned that updates could be made for several of the pumps and gates as a temporary fix for those areas that would not be targeted.
It was also suggested that the consultant from GMB Engineers address the Commissioners again to answer more questions.
Friday morning, flooding occurred again in several areas of town, once again highlighting the urgency of finding a solution.
