The Chattanooga area had another episode of flooding. When I again notified city and county officials of the problems in the Brainerd-East Brainerd-Lee Highway area, I was disappointed that I got replies only from council members Benson and Berz, but not Mayor Littlefield. Since I have discussed this issue with him in the past, perhaps he felt he didn't need to speak to me or others who also contacted him. While he is busy with his annexation, it would seem only reasonable that he would want to spend a few minutes handling problems in a district he used to represent on the council. My only concern with the annexation is that the promised services will not materialize for many years or even decades. His response to the flooding makes my worries grow stronger.

The last time this area flooded, I spoke with several city officials and engineers. The only real answers to the problem appear to be making modifications to the storm sewers so the water from Chickamauga Creek doesn't back up and digging flood reservoirs in the ground on property the city took over after the last flood. With the Brainerd levee holding water from overflowing to the west, the only place flood water has to go is east across East Brainerd Road. It is the same problem seen in Mitchell Acres in Fort Oglethorpe. Water has to go somewhere, and when it is prevented from going where it used to flood, it will flood somewhere else.

Before he died, Dee Coleman, who opened the Airport Pharmacy on Lee Highway years ago, told me that the flood of 1993 was as high along the first block of East Brainerd as it was during the devastating flood of 1973. The 1993 flood was not as bad as in 1973 in most places, but the Brainerd Levee caused greater problems on the other shore. Remember how it got up onto the runways at the airport?

If the Chattanooga city government wants the citizens in the county to accept annexation, then Mayor Littlefield needs to accept the city's responsibility to handle the problems in the city. I live in the county and do not oppose the annexation, if it will improve services and infrastructure. However, I already pay significant city property taxes, so you cannot say I'm using the parks and streets for free. I just want the services that are needed to come from my taxes.

Roger A. Meyer, PhD
Writer, Woodturner/carver and Volunteer