A stream of concerns about flooding dominated the city’s second public meeting Monday on how to spend the $39 million Altoona is getting through the American Rescue Plan — just like the first meeting in July.

Multiple residents asked for help with water woes, but there were also pleas to fund repairs at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, maintain old cemeteries, construct a skatepark and promote competition among internet service providers.

As before, residents asked for help to control flooding along Brush Run between the boulevards in Pleasant Valley, but a group this time also brought up problems caused by Mill Run behind South Terrace Drive, not far from the back of Logan Valley Mall.

The most serious flooding problem described Monday was the regular inundation of the living quarters of Debbie Kelly’s house on the 1000 block of Valley View Boulevard, because of a Brush Run tributary running through the property.

“Even little rains now produce large damage,” Kelly said. “A half-an-hour rain, and we’re in big trouble.”

The tributary that comes across Valley View Boulevard from the Brush Mountain side brings up water that blocks access to all three exterior doors, that enters her family room and then the bedroom of her daughter, who uses a wheelchair, Kelly said.

It has forced Kelley to place her daughter on the bed there, to keep her out of the flood, she said.

The overflows have destroyed a water heater and a furnace, downed trees and dislodged rocks, timbers and a bridge on the property, she said.

It has left the bottom half of walls inside the house moldy — such that scrubbing does no good, Kelly said.

“I’m breathing it,” she said of the mold spores. “My daughter’s breathing it.”

“If you can get something done, I’d really appreciate it,” she added.

Mill Run also a problem

Behind South Terrace, Mill Run has been sending water into yards and causing erosion, according to Donald Snyder.

Over 15 years, Snyder has spent about $50,000 replacing shrubs and grass, he said.

The creek also has deposited bottles, cans, tires, bicycles and condoms on his property, he said. “It’s filthy water.”

In addition to regular runoff, there is sometimes a 2- or 3-foot wave reflecting releases from the combined sewer overflow near Tuckahoe Park, after the “first-flush” tank fills up during significant storms, Snyder said.

The water contains sewage — although it is highly diluted.

“It’s a situation (that) is no good for kids,” Snyder said. “(And) there’s a terrible odor.”

The storms have taken about 9 feet of his property so far, eroding the bank and taking 13 of 15 trees planted alongside it.

It’s now threatening his driveway.

He’s spoken to agencies from the local to federal levels. There have been some efforts to help, but nothing that has been definitive.

“It’s a nasty situation,” he said. “The people in the community are fed up.”

RR museum seeks funds

The Railroaders Memorial Museum needs about $900,000 to repair the former Master Mechanics building of the Pennsylvania Railroad, according to local historial Jared Frederick.

Repairs are needed for the roof, flooring, dormers, spouting and lighting, and brickwork is in need of repointing, he said.

The city ought to provide the funding to “ensure the sustainability of one of the most cherished destinations” of visitors to the city, he said.

The proposed repairs would complement an ongoing effort to rejuvenate the museum’s exhibits undertaken during the pandemic, when the facility was closed, Frederick said. That revenue loss exacerbated the funding needs of the organization.

Cemeteries touted

The city should allocate some of the ARP funding for older cemeteries like Rose Hill, Oak Ridge and Fairview, said Cindy Beauchamp, who is primarily associated with Rose Hill.

Because of pandemic restrictions, cemeteries like hers couldn’t rely on volunteers for more than a year, which forced it to pay professionals to mow and trim, depleting available money, she said.

Further, volunteers at the cemeteries are struggling to manage the work, along with the “out of pocket” expenses they often incur, she said.

There needs to be “open dialog” about the possibility of the city using its expertise and funding for mowing, tree maintenance and paving, to ensure that the resting places of the ancestors of people alive today receive due respect, Beauchamp said.

Other requests

The city should also consider funding a skatepark, according to Harriett Gaston.

Municipalities often talk about liability and “risk management,” she conceded.

“But there has to be a way to be there for younger citizens,” Gaston said.

It’s important to “get children out of the house” and into healthy activities, she said.

And the city should consider doing something to improve internet service, said Kathy Wolf of Furnace Avenue.

City staff is already considering stormwater upgrades in various neighborhoods; partial “reconstruction” of the workforce, which was depleted in connection with the pandemic this year; broadband infrastructure improvements; help for downtown businesses; business grants and loans; and cyber security work, according to City Manager Omar Strohm.

Information about the South Terrace problems was new to him on Monday, Strohm said.

The ARP money could probably be used for the rail museum and a skatepark, Strohm guessed.

It’s not certain that it could be used for the cemetery work, he said.

Despite the large grant, the $39 million would cover probably only half 0of the requests the city has been getting, Strohm said.

Staff will eventually produce a slate of recommended projects that City Council would approve, Strohm indicated.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.