Monroe trying to get state money to fix flooding issues - KNOE 8 News; KNOE-TV; KNOE.com |

By Victoria Shirley

MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News)- The City of Monroe is trying to get state money to minimize city flooding. "Water came up over the sandbags, see how far? All the way up to there." said a woman standing in her South Monroe lawn after storms hit in April of last year.

Now public works director Tom Janway says they are working to secure money to minimize flood damage. "We've applied for to grants with the Louisiana state flood program." said Janway. The grant would provide over 6 million dollars for flood control projects. If awarded the money, a 5.5 million dollar pump station would be built in South Monroe.

Also a 1.5 million dollar retention pond will be constructed to minimize flooding in North Monroe.
Still Janway says the pumps can't perform miracles. "Well pump stations don't keep everyone from flooding, the object is to reduce the level of flooding in an area."

The city will file their application by October. If approved, the state will pay for 90% of the project with the city paying 10% of the total cost. "We have a real good feeling about getting it, we have visited with the department of transportation this past year, they like the projects that we've presented, so we feel real good about it at this point in time."

Janway says the city will find out if they received the grant by next summer. Updated engines will be installed at the Rochelle Pump Station this summer. The updates will be paid for by the city and are unrelated to the grant application.