City finally paying attention to danger

“Bonners Ferry will flood!” This was a statement by the city administrator and his assistant during their slide show at the June 19, 2012 Bonners Ferry City Council meeting. They went on to state Libby Dam will NOT be able to control a major flood incident due to the other demands on Libby Dam i.e. power, EPA, endangered species and Canadians.

Proposals were shown suggesting a levee be constructed across the Kootenai River Inn parking lot or down Arizona Street allowing only the inn to be flooded. The administrator’s office was responding to the Corps of Engineers February 17, 2012 report that a flood would go over the bank at the Inn where the levee has been removed and the chances of controlling the flood are “remote.”

The water will pour into the town through the “Bonners Ferry culvert” (pedestrian walkway to the city) and under Highway 95 along Arizona Street. They also mentioned sandbagging the Bonners Ferry Culvert. This action would allow the Kootenai Inn to flood and would sacrifice the Eaton Subdivision and its family homes.

Both the city administrator, Stephen Boorman and his assistant, David Sims are to be congratulated for finally taking on the very real and dire threat to the citizens and town of Bonners Ferry. This has always been the major flooding problem and the consequences have been ignored.

TREMAIN ALBRIGHT

Bonners Ferry