Property Owners Want Silt Removed from Silver Creek

In late August, heavy rain associated with caused , where a section of the tributary passes underneath buildings in the 600 block of Main Street.

In the wake of water damage to those structures, several property owners have asked borough officials about ownership of the creek, and whether silt removal can be undertaken to help mitigate future flooding in the area, Hellertown Borough Manager Cathy Kichline announced at Borough Council's Sept. 6 meeting.

"I don't have an answer," Kichline said, referring to the question of ownership.

Several council members said that waterways are federally regulated and owned, and as such, require government clearance before they can be cleared of debris.

Borough Engineer Bryan Smith concurred, and said the borough would probably need to consult with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) before attempting to act on any plan to help control future flooding.

Council Vice President John Bate expressed strong support for doing something about the Silver Creek, and noted that a tree has become lodged in the waterway at a point where it passes beneath a building.

"That whole area needs to be dredged out," he said.

Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer Joe Chernaskey said he had already told the Public Works Department about the stuck tree, and that employees planned to use a front-end loader to remove it.

However, "right now is not the safest time," he said, referring to the heavy rain that was falling in Hellertown at the time of the meeting.

Councilman Tom Rieger made a motion to have Kichline and Smith investigate possible options for cleaning out the creek in the vicinity of Main and Harris streets in downtown, which was approved unanimously.

At the meeting Kichline also noted that Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) officials had toured Hellertown in the wake of Irene, in the context of a visit to Northampton County to assess widespread damage related to the storm.

"From what I understand ," Kichline said, before adding that she does not know how much compensation Hellertown might ultimately receive.