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Jefferson-Chalmers Canal Closures - Meeting Update and Talking Points

Jefferson-Chalmers Canal Closures - Meeting Update and Talking Points

October 10, 2022

Jefferson-Chalmers Canal Closure Meetings

Hey there,

Andy again with hopefully the last update before the big meeting this Tuesday at 6:00PM at Hope Community Church on Jefferson about the canal closures.

Summary:

Pre-meeting tonight (Monday)
The Big Meeting (Tuesday)
Send your opinions to the city directly
Update your profile with us.
Talking Points for Tuesday

Let’s do this:

Pre-Meeting Tonight: Monday, October 10th, 7:00PM at 941 Ashland

We’re hosting an open meeting tonight at 7PM ‘til 8PM at my house at 941 Ashland to go over talking points, facts, and get organized for Tuesday.

All are welcome. If we have too many people we may move it outside, so please be dressed for the weather. It’s a very nice day out.

The Big City Meeting: Tuesday, October 11th, 6:00PM at Hope Community Church. This is the one to attend.

Reminder that this Tuesday, October 11th, there’s the important in-person meeting at Hope Community Church on Jefferson.

This is your big chance to voice your opinions in person. There will be NO Zoom access for this meeting.

We’ve included some talking points and facts at the bottom of this email.

Send your opinions to the city directly

You can email [email protected] with your opinions about the Tiger Dams, potential canal closures, and other issues. It’s important you file your complaints before November 4th, 2022.

Update your profile with us

Please consider adding your property address and phone number on our list so we can contact you directly in case there is an urgent change.

You can update your profile by clicking here: click this link

This is optional but helpful.

Talking points for Tuesday’s city meeting

We’ve assembled some key facts and talking points for Tuesday’s city meeting. This is just to be helpful, please don’t feel this is an obligation. We want you to speak your piece.

Please see below:

Key Facts and Talking Points For Tuesday’s Meeting

Main point: “We don’t want a CHEAP fix, we want the RIGHT fix.”

WE AGREE:

Jefferson-Chalmers must be removed from the floodplain designation.
1. Flood insurance is an unnecessary and unaffordable expense - especially for residents on a fixed income.
2. Affordable housing is needed and the floodplain designation prevents Federal investment in affordable housing. We need development without displacement.
3. Elevation certificates are an appropriate tool to remove individual properties from the floodplain.
Clean water in our canals and our faucets is essential for our health and safety.
1. Sewage must be separated from stormwater.
2. “Combined Sewer Overflows” (CSOs) in our community must end.
3. All lead service lines must be replaced with copper.
We have a right to keep our basements dry and free of sewage.
1. Sewage is toxic. Backwater prevention valves, sump pumps, and rain gardens all contribute to keeping our basements free from the harmful effects of sewage.
2. DWSD must regularly clean and maintain catch basins for a healthy drainage system.
NO CANAL CLOSURES - NOT PARTIALLY, NOT TEMPORARILY, NOT EVER.
1. Canal closures of any kind WILL NOT fix our sewage problem.
2. Closing the canal WILL:
  1. Destroy our local businesses.
  2. Destroy our environment and create a cesspool of mosquitos and trash.
  3. Destroy access, by-right public use and navigation.
  4. Destroy our property values neighborhood-wide.
3. Water levels are cyclical and predicted to drop in the next year so we have time to develop the proper fix as a community.

We will host a neighborhood-wide fall cookout and meetup on Sunday, November 13th. Time and location will be announced shortly.

Thank you for your time and energy. Feel free to respond to this email with any questions or comments and we’ll address.

-Andy + the team