Helen scrubs riverbank work due to lack of cooperation

HELEN - Seven months after deciding to spend about $150,000 to repair an eroded riverbank containing an exposed sanitary sewer line, Helen city leaders have scrapped that plan.<br /> <br /> During this week's Helen City Commission meeting, officials heard that Helen Waterpark owner Merle Long would have to grant access to the river across his property in order for the work to occur, and he has not done so.<br /> <br /> Instead, Long said he would consider granting access to the river if city leaders made concessions in front of his property on Escowee Drive, the former Orbit Manufacturing building.<br /> <br /> Helen is planning to construct a new sidewalk along Escowee to improve safety and serve residents and businesses in that area. City plans call for four 24-foot curb cuts (96 total feet) on the right-of-way in front of Long's property.<br /> <br /> Long had told city officials he wants two 30-foot curb cuts, two 40-foot curb cuts, and two 50-foot curb cuts at the Escowee Drive property.<br /> <br /> Commissioner Jeff Ash and others said the two issues are unrelated.<br /> <br /> "He's trying to hold us hostage," City Manager Jerry Elkins said.<br /> <br /> Total curb cuts requested by Long add up to 240 feet, which city leaders said negates the safety factor created by the planned sidewalk.<br /> <br /> "I think this is unreasonable," said Mayor Judy Holloway.<br /> <br /> Commissioners asked if the riverbank has to be repaired now, and Elkins told them it does not. He said exposed sewer lines can be seen in communities everywhere, hanging under bridges and along riverbanks.<br /> <br /> "Tell him no thank you," Commissioner Helen Wilkins said.<br /> <br /> Long, who brought the issue to the city's attention earlier this year, did not attend this week's meeting where the matter was discussed.<br /> <br /> The affected riverbank is located along the Chattahoochee River behind Wilderforest Condos, across the river from Helen Waterpark.<br /> <br /> "Essentially, there's roughly 250 linear feet of streambank that runs on the Chattahoochee River, and the city has a sanitary sewer line that runs parallel with that," engineer Fletcher Holliday of EMI said in April.<br /> <br /> As long as that sanitary sewer line is stable and doesn't rupture, the city is not required to upgrade or replace it, officials said.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2014/11/282140