JERMYN -- A long awaited county flood-protection project slated for a community in Lackawanna County is getting some financial help.
Nearly $400,000 state dollars is set to go to improving a creek running through borough that flooded in 2003, but many residents say they want work to start now.
The bridges spanning Rushbrook Creek in Jermyn are in clear need of repairs.
Sandra Soey lives next to a blocked off bridge and says the bridges have been falling apart since the creek flooded Jermyn more than 10 years ago.
“There`s two big holes on my side and then there`s a huge one on the other side and I`m just afraid that one of these days--they still scale that fence, there`s kids scaling the fence,” said Soey.
Jermyn flooded in September of 2003 when the creek left several feet of water in homes and businesses.
Frank Constantine posted signs on his home, showing his frustration that more than a decade has passed with no improvements done to the creek.
“Every time the water comes up you get that anxiety attack, you know what I mean?” said Constantine.
Now State Representative Frank Farina (D-115th District) says Lackawanna County has received a $385,000 state grant to help move a county planned flood protection project forward.
The project calls for the replacing of five bridges, building a levee near River Street, and installing trash racks to prevent debris from collecting under bridge openings.
The project comes with an estimated cost of $4.5 million dollars.
People here say they want to see less talk and more work.
“Thirteen years and we`re at square one, so if it took 13 years not to get out of square one, how much longer is it to get this finished?” said Andrew Whitiak, owner of the Windsor Inn, which lost all its basement inventory in the flood. “It`s not even started.”
“I really don`t think it`s going to happen. I really don`t. I don`t think I`m going see it,” said Soey.
Before work can start, Jermyn officials still need the approval of 32 rights of way permits to either remove or relocate utilities that would interfere with the project.