The City of Jonesboro is spending over one-and-a-half-million dollars on trying to fix drainage issues in Jonesboro. This after record flooding in May where six inches of rain fell in a three hour time frame. Jonesboro is dedicating full time resources to five major projects that include clearing out and stabilizing over 60 miles of ditch maintenance in the city. However, that work might not be enough.
Jonesboro city officials joined Craighead County department heads in talking about why the May 24th event occurred. While the city of Jonesboro is doing what it can, a larger problem is actually located near the Craighead and Poinsett county line.
Water from the drainage districts in Craighead County flows south to a large ditch called Big Bay. Big Bay has two 90-degree angles that slows the flow of water. Once the water reaches that bay, officials say the water has nowhere to go quickly and backs up, which causes flooding in areas like Jonesboro.
City Water and Light Engineer Craig Light told Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin, Craighead County Judge Ed Hill and other officials that the Army Corps of Engineers is actually working on the southern part of Big Bay, but it may take several years before it reaches the northern part of Big Bay. Jonesboro Alderman Charles Frierson agreed and stated that funds for maintenance of Big Bay are limited and should be addressed by Arkansas’ Congressional Delegation and the Army Corps of Engineers.
Those in the meeting say they want to bring the new Commander of the Memphis District of the Army Corps of Engineers to Jonesboro to discuss the drainage issues as well as the need for funding for work at Big Bay to continue. There was no word when a meeting would take place with the new commander, which is Colonel Michael Ellicott, Junior.
Jonesboro Mayor Harold Perrin stated he will be going to Washington D.C. in September to talk with the Arkansas Congressional Delegation about the need for more federal funding to address Big Bay.
