Miami to Hold Town Hall on Flooding, Seeks Community Input
Miami to Hold Town Hall on Flooding, Seeks Community Input
By Miami News-Digest
Published: February 8, 2025
MIAMI, Okla. — The City of Miami is inviting residents to provide feedback on the impacts of flooding at a town hall meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2025, at the Coleman Theatre Ballroom, 113 N. Main St.
The meeting will focus on the Protection, Mitigation and Enhancement (PM&E) phase of the licensing and relicensing process for the Pensacola Project, which governs the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) operations affecting flooding in Miami and Ottawa County.
"This meeting is for you, the citizens. It's for you to ask your questions and for you to be fully informed," Miami Mayor Bless Parker said. "Flooding is absolutely the most important issue we currently face as a community. I sit in on meeting after meeting on this very issue and I am very informed. It's important that our citizens also understand how violated Miami has been by GRDA's mismanagement of the waterway and their current license."
Legal and Regulatory Updates
The town hall is part of the city’s ongoing legal and regulatory efforts to address historic and ongoing flooding issues. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is reviewing filings related to the license and relicensing process for the Pensacola Project, a key stage in determining potential modifications to GRDA’s operations.
Miami City Manager Tyler Cline emphasized the need for public participation.
"We need our community members to attend this key meeting and provide real feedback and comments to assist our legal counsel and continue this important work."
The meeting will feature updates from Davis Wright Tremaine LLP (DWT), the city’s legal team. Attorney Larry Bork will discuss the civil lawsuit filed against GRDA involving the City of Miami and over 400 litigants. The lawsuit centers on claims that GRDA’s management of the Pensacola Dam has worsened flooding issues, causing damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
Community Involvement
The town hall will include an interactive Q&A session and opportunities for public comment. Information gathered will be included in the final community PM&E report, which will help shape potential modifications to GRDA’s facilities, operations, and mitigation measures.
"We are eagerly anticipating the upcoming town hall as a valuable opportunity to engage with the community about the proposed license conditions for the Pensacola Project," DWT Attorney Shannon O’Neal said. "This event will allow us to gather feedback from those most directly impacted by flooding, enabling us to work collaboratively toward a long-term solution that best serves the city and surrounding communities."
Flooding in Miami has been a contentious issue for decades, with local officials and residents arguing that GRDA’s water management policies have worsened conditions, particularly during heavy rain events. The relicensing process presents a critical opportunity for Miami to push for changes that could reduce future flooding impacts.
Attend the Town Hall
Residents interested in learning more or providing feedback are encouraged to attend the meeting in person. The city’s legal team and officials stress that public participation is essential to ensuring the community’s concerns are addressed in the relicensing process.
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