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Sumner flood money goes to sidewalk program

Enough money couldn't be raised for wall, say officials

By Avani Nadkarni/of The Herald

The residents of Rainier Manor saw a glimmer of hope in 2009.

After a dozen years of anxiously watching the river come into their 55-and-older mobile home community, they cautiously celebrated the city of Sumner receiving a nearly $200,000 community development block grant from Pierce County, which was earmarked toward building a $4 million flood wall.

Now, exactly one year after melting snow and major rains caused the Puyallup River to flood, leaving ruined homes and knee-high mud in the community, residents are frustrated once again.

After much effort, the city was unable to secure any more funding from the county, state and federal levels. That made constructing the flood wall impossible, said Deputy City Administrator Diane Supler.

“We were hoping to get some other grants and they just didn’t come to fruition,” Supler said.

Instead of giving the money back to the city, the city chose to transfer the $200,000 to a city-wide sidewalk overhaul program, targeted toward low-to-moderate-income areas. Although they say they understand the logic, the entire situation is disappointing to Rainier Manor residents.

“We’re just kind of dead in the water,” former Rainier Manor Homeowner’s Association president, and current vice-president, Bob Tea said. “(The grant money) wasn’t going to do anything for us unless we got more funding, which we didn’t. Here we sit.”

The homeowner’s association secretary Sally Bailey, whose home was destroyed during a past flood, said she’s trying to remain positive.

“I can’t see anything wrong with (the city transferring funds to the sidewalk program),” said Bailey, who said she still nervously watches the Puyallup River water level anytime it rains. “(The city) really worked hard to try and get funds for the flood wall. They didn’t, and I’d rather see the money help with projects they need to get done.”

It’s a bad situation all around, City Administrator John Doan said. With state and federal agencies trying to cut costs in a bad economy, it was next to impossible to secure grants. Stimulus money was available but mainly for “construction-ready” projects.

“(The flood wall) wasn’t permitted, wasn’t designed,” Doan explained. “We had a hard time getting federal money for it.”

The next step for the city may be known as early as next month, when city staff bring ideas to a Sumner City Council study session.

“There are some options for creating new revenue service,” Doan said, citing taxes as an example. “There needs to be some conversation about ‘Is that something people are interested in?’ and ‘Would it be just a city thing or bigger than that?’”

The majority of Rainier Manor residents think one solution in particular is the best: Dredging. Many council members have expressed support for dredging, as well.

“The best thing that could happen for all of us is if the county or the state ... would get a yearly maintenance program for the river,” Bailey said. “It really needs some sandbar removal or some dredging. I think it’s more important than a flood wall or anything else.”

One thing is for sure — if something isn’t done quickly, residents may begin to walk away from the community, even if it means leaving empty-handed.

“We might just leave,” resident Carl Lambert said. “A lot of neighbors want to move out. It’s not just us, it’s a lot of homes and apartments up and down the river that need help. We were very discouraged (when the money wasn’t raised). Talk is over. I wish they’d really get serious about doing something.”