Bob Kennedy, associate director of public works, is working to make sure the next time the St. Marys River rises, there will be as few waterlogged homes as possible.

Tuesday night at the City Council's flood-control meeting, Kennedy made a presentation to about 50 residents of the Woodhurst and Foster Park areas about flood control.

The project calls for construction of 1,800 feet of earthen levies and 4,000 feet of concrete flood walls to protect 120 homes. Planning for the project, which will be funded by a bond, began after the July 2003 flood.

Some residents raised concerns about the project, such as whether it would provide the best protection for their homes and what could be done about standing water in the streets.

Some asked why homes were even built on the flood plain to begin with.

But not everyone questioned the project.

“Everybody … their situation is improved by the wall. I don't see what the concern is,” said resident Dean Zimmerman. “To come against this plan is ridiculous.”

Kennedy said he presented the plan at the latest Southwest Area Partnership meeting and fielded questions there as well.

The project is expected to be bid Sept. 12 and will go to City Council for approval a few weeks later. Construction could begin as early as this year to be finished in 2008.

“A lot of thinking has gone into this, and if I lived there, I'd probably have some of the same concerns,” said Councilman Tim Pape, D-5th District. “We need to move forward now.”