Overton Erosion Spots To Be Corrected Through Grant

Six different erosion problems across Overton County will be repaired after County Commissioners approved a $293,000 project Monday night.

County Commissioner Darwin Clark said soil conservation teams selected the six areas that were subject to erosion or where flooding had occurred. Clark said the issues were along stream banks.

“Basically it’s just going in and dig in the stream banks back and lay in some geotech fiber and then put rock on top and layer it in,” Clark said. “And we hope it solves the erosion problems on these creek banks.”

Federal money pays 75 percent of the repairs through the National Resources Conservation Service Cooperative. The county match of $97,683 will include work being done by the Highway Department and other expenses.

Clark said the soil conservation teams canvas the county for problem sites, for example where stream banks are getting close to roadways.

“If they determine that a site has high potential for erosion or flooding, then it’s put on a list for repair,” Clark said.

County Executive Ben Danner said many areas around the county have seen repairs in previous years from the program, including areas near the Armory off Highway 111.

In other business, commissioners approved the application for a Community Block Development Grant. The money would be used for mini-pumper trucks for country fire departments. Danner said the county finished 15th in the funding process last year, just one spot out of getting the funding. The county seeks $420,000 for the trucks with a 13 percent match.

Commissioners also approved a contract with Volunteer Behavioral Health for assessment and outpatient services for the drug recovery court.