Pueblo group faces challenges on repairs along Wildhorse Creek

Work will continue on the Arkansas River Levee and Wildhorse Creek, but there could be a problem.

The Pueblo Conservancy District received a $10 million bank loan for the projects, but it’s running into trouble buying properties along Wildhorse Creek from 15th to 18th streets in the Lower Westside.

It said it can’t get a hold of the owners and if it continues, the district will buy the properties through eminent domain because the purchase is meant to keep people safe.

Engineer Rick Kidd said the district wants to extend the levee up to 18th Street to protect people in the Lower Westside.

“It’s the protection of the value of the properties to keep the floodwaters out and safety for people caught in a flood if there should be one,” engineer Rick Kidd said.

“We can’t predict when a flood is going to happen. If something should happen, like that, we will benefit from the safety,” homeowner Lorranie Sisneros said.

Kidd said the loan will be paid off through the maintenance fund assessment that’s charged to people in the county. He said the district will payback $700,000 a year for the loan.

Kidd said the work needs to be done to fit FEMA’s standards. If it doesn’t get fixed, homeowners and property owners near the creek would have to buy flood insurance.

Work on the levee and Wildhorse should start again in December.