Sumner reallocates flood wall funds, but flood protection alternatives sought

Published 4:13 pm Wednesday, February 3, 2010

At Monday’s Sumner City Council meeting Mayor Dave Enslow said alternative flood protection is being sought following the reallocation of funds alloted for the construction of a flood wall.

Sumner received a community Development Block Grant of $200,000 in 2009 for the construction of a flood wall for the Riverwalk, Rivergrove and Rainier Manor community. The grant was dependent on obtaining the remainder of the approximately $4 million needed to construct the flood wall.

Because Sumner did not raise the remainder of money needed for the project the grant needed to be returned.

Instead of returning the funds to Pierce County, the city requested to reallocate the funds to a sidewalk project in Sumner.

Pierce County approved the reallocation and the funds were transferred to an Elm Street East project which adds approximately 700 feet of new sidewalk.