Steve Shidler, chief of the Corps' Real Estate Division, said it is important for the future of the project that people who have property the Corps wishes to acquire show up attend the meeting.
"Others are welcome but those within the project limits who have land needed for construction are our target audience," he said, adding the primary purpose of the meeting is to let property owners and other folks directly impacted by the land acquisition process get to know about Corps policies and procedures.
"There are about 50 owners affected by land acquisition from Island Creek to where it enters the Guyandotte River upstream about seven miles, up to the railroad bridge," he said. "For the most part the land area affected is right by the creek. We will be working in the creek bed and along the Island Creek banks. There is only one business identified at this time, which will be purchased and be relocated to another place -The Super 8 Hotel."
Peggy Noell, public affairs officer for the Huntington District Office for the Corps, said that Corps is anxious to get rolling on the estimated $36 million project that should eliminate seasonal flooding in our region, once completed.
"We are getting ready to start a very important project," Noell said. "This will provide benefits to the residents of this particular area. There should be a decrease in flood damages in the future. The WV Conservation Agency, WV Division of Homeland Security and Logan County Commission are partnering with Corps to complete the project."
Once finished the channel will be widened by 3,600 feet and water will move through Island Creek more rapidly during extreme rains, instead of backing up, if everything works out as planned.
Noell and Sherry Adams, project manager, said that no homes will be bought out and that only one business will be affected. Reportedly upon announcement that funding was complete and the project was gearing up, some residents of the area had contacted the Logan County Commission about buy outs.
Noell, Adams, Steve Shidler, chief of Real Estate Division, and Ken Bumgardner, chief of Real Estate Acquisition Branch, gave details about the meeting and the long term estimated completion dates on Thursday. Noell said in January paperwork began to get started on the project.
A study was conducted in the late 1970s and the construction project was authorized in 1986 but at that time funding was not available for the project.
In the late 1990s the WV Conservation District "came to the table" with the Logan County Commission with funding to be cost share sponsors on the project.
"Since then we have been working on getting federal funding to start construction," Adams said. "January started the beginning of what we consider the construction phase of the project but we have to get through real estate acquisition to start actual construction."
Shidler said even though no homes will be bought out, there are many homes that will benefit from the project once it is completed, as routine seasonal flooding problems due to Island Creek backing up should be solved.
"Any interested party is welcome to attend the meeting which is focused on land owners who have property that needs to be acquired. We will discuss their rights and the technical acquisition of that land," Shidler said.
Adams noted the Logan County Commission has on display a drawing that shows the parameters where the channel will be widened and showing its outlay.
Shidler said the project starts where Island Creek begins into the river and goes upstream. First construction will occur in the summer of 2010 when construction on the lower portion actually begins. Adams said the real estate process will take 3 and a one-half years total and overall completion is expected in 2012.
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