Anyone who spent any amount of time in Southeast Texas knows we get abundant rainfall. And with that abundant rainfall water can accumulate quickly, creating flooding hazards. Most acutely in Lakeview, the city’s west side and Port Acres and surrounding areas.

With Port Arthur voters approving a $17 million bond proposal in the November 2007 election, the city’s public works department is gearing up to begin street and drainage improvements pending the city council’s approval in the very near future.

Raymond Johnson, a resident of Vista Village, has never had floodwater in his home, but believes the city should be proactive rather than reactive by upgrading the water and drainage systems ahead of time and not wating for something bad to happen — like a flood.

“We don’t want to wait for a disaster,” Johnson said.

He added the city’s infrastructure needs to be updated and more reliable, all the more so with more people moving to the area from the industrial expansion projects.

“As the city expands itself, more people are moving here,” he said.

According to The News archives, proposition 3 allocates $2 million for drainage improvements with 1,730 or 80.24 percent in favor and 426 or 19.76 percent against. Proposition 4 allocates $3 million for streets, with related drainage, and was passed with a margin of 1,710 or 78.66 percent in favor and 464 or 21.34 percent against.

City Manager Stephen Fitzgibbons said there is a severe flooding problem and the bond issue will help with the projects until more money potentially comes into the city’s coffers from industrial development.

Fitzgibbons said with the growth of retail, industrial and other expansions, there will be more of a demand for city services.

City Engineer Ross Blackketter said there are a lot of issues with Port Arthur’s streets and drainage and there is “definitely a need.”

Blackketter said the following listing will not necessarily follow in this order, they are recommended projects. The work will consist of reconstruction or resurfacing by both city crews and contractors. The department will also pre-notify drivers of street and drain work.

• Procter Street from 9th Avenue to Stadium Road $287,500

(milling, concrete repair, HMAC)

• Stadium Road from Lewis Drive to the south dead end $138,000