Congressman Jerry McNerney pledged Wednesday to help shore up
federal dollars for a long-delayed flood control project along
Llagas Creek.
Morgan Hill – Congressman Jerry McNerney pledged Wednesday to help shore up federal dollars for a long-delayed flood control project along Llagas Creek.
McNerney made the promise visiting City Hall during a whirlwind tour of his district, which covers parts of San Joaquin, Alameda, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties.
Meeting with Mayor Steve Tate and the rest of the city council, the freshman congressman was briefed on the Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project, which affects more than 1,100 homes, 500 businesses and more than 1,300 acres of agricultural land in South County.
City officials hope the congressman can be an asset in Washington D.C. when it comes to pushing forward the stalled $105 million U.S. Corps of Engineering Project.
President George Bush’s proposed budget for the next fiscal year starting July 1 doesn’t include any funding for public works projects, an issue city officials hope McNerney can help resolve.
The flood-control project was initiated in 1954 and remains only 60 percent complete with the Gilroy area protected but Morgan Hill and San Martin still vulnerable to bad floods. Language to deliver the project to South County was added to the Water Resources Development Act of 2005 by McNerney’s predecessor, Richard Pombo, but the bill was not successful during the last session of Congress. Hoping for better luck this session, city officials asked McNerney to ensure language is resubmitted to get the project done.
Additionally, the Santa Clara Valley Water District is asking McNerney to lock in $370,000 in federal funding next year for continued planning, design and environmental updates relating to the project.
After the meeting at City Hall, the congressman met with constituents at Safeway on Tennant Avenue, listening to their concerns and gathering ideas to take back to Washington.
McNerney plans to log plenty of frequent flyer miles this year with plans to visit his district every week. His aides say he is launching a running series of hour-long, face-to-face meetings in the communities he represents.
