Corps Chief of Civil Works and Emergency Operations meets with local sponsors and stakeholders
KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Deputy Commanding General for Civil Works and Emergency Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh met Wednesday with multiple local levee sponsors, business owners and stakeholders to discuss civil works and infrastructure issues in the KC metro area.
Walsh discussed KC metro watershed issues with representatives of the Kansas City Water Services Department, The Missouri and Associated Rivers Coalition, The Mid-America Regional Council, The State of Kansas Fairfax Drainage District and several local business owners.
Walsh stated that “The might of the nation is based off its infrastructure.” He continued and addressed the national budget constraints by stating “The World has been in an economic malaise and we’re in austere times.” Walsh emphasized that the Corps will continue its collaboration and successful partnerships with the KC metro area regardless of budget constraints. “Rivers bring people together,” Walsh added.
Tom Roberts, president and CEO of Kansas City, MO-based CFM Distributors, added that budgets for these projects aren’t what they used to be and that we need to coordinate unified government money in to the water resource planning process, “We all need to be in synch.”
Lynda Hoffman, manager of the Water Services Department, Waterways Division in Kansas City, Mo. said that “Every water resource in this area has an active stakeholder group and that the Corps partners with us and our stakeholders very effectively.” She added “Don’t tell us what we can’t do, tell us what we can,” using the Brush Creek project as an example.
Don Curtis, president of Missouri and Associated Rivers Coalition stated that the civil works partnership with Corps has been very successful over the years and unlike the upper basin, the lower basin states look to the Corps as the go-to organization for water resources planning and added that the partnership is maintained at the local level and that we can all adapt to satisfy our interests in the basin.
Many water resource issues reach across the boundaries of individual communities. Often these are addressed by working together. The Mid-America Regional Council’s Community Development Director, Marlene Nagel added that coordination for projects affecting numerous communities has been very positive and that they appreciate the working relationship MARC has with the Corps.
Schutte Lumber Company President, Michael Fuhrman said that these relationships are important to the area and the community as a whole. Those with interests from two states, numerous cities, stakeholders and business owners, everyone had a voice with Maj. Gen. Walsh today. “He sincerely thanked us for our time. It was a huge effort for him to hear our concerns and make our case on continued collaboration in the planning process, just goes to show you how it works.”
For questions, contact the Kansas City District Public Affairs Office at (816) 389-3486.
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