Jerry McNerney wants to complete a project that began 54 years ago.
The Congressman was in town Friday morning to let residents know he is committed to securing funding to complete the Llagas Creek Flood Protection project and to ask community members to join him.
He plans to request an appropriation add-on of $1.8 million for fiscal year 2009 to move forward with the project.
The project was started in 1954, according to information from the Santa Clara Valley Water District, and is about 60 percent complete, providing flood protection in the Gilroy area. But San Martin and Morgan Hill are still unprotected.
Llagas Creek flows through all three areas, and the purpose of the project was to modify its flow in areas, as well as replacing 35 road crossings.
McNerney, Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate, Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors Chair Rosemary Kamei and others gathered at the bridge over Llagas Creek on West Third Street to talk about plans to move forward to complete the project.
"We hear constant reminders from members of this community how important this project is," McNerney said. "This is part of my responsibility as an elected official representing this area. This is the biggest issue … I'm making it a priority."
Lt. Colonel Craig Kiley with the Army Corps of Engineers told the crowd gathered Friday morning that the next phase could be started next spring. The next phase stretches north 2.26 miles from Buena Vista Avenue in San Martin to just south of Masten Avenue.
The latest flooding in Morgan Hill Jan. 4 inundated 20 buildings and closed three miles of roads, Kamei said.
"Morgan Hill has had flooding five times in the last 12 years," she said Friday morning. "This is not going to go away."
Trail Dust BBQ owner Eric Ingram said he is anxious to see the project completed. During the Jan. 4 flood, his restaurant was one of the most affected, with several inches of water on the floor.
"This is really hard for a small business, for any small business," he said.
Tate said he hopes the community will continue to voice its support of the project to elected officials.
"We can't delay any more years. We have to move it forward," he said. "Each year the project is delayed means another year of costly flood insurance premiums paid by businesses and residents in the flood zone ... Each year the project is delayed means another year of lost opportunity to significantly upgrade and revitalize our older downtown area."
Marilyn Dubil Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or send her an email.
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