Engineer's report cites infractions
in development of Eagle Pointe

By By Buddy Bynum / editor
August 23,2003
An engineer's report delivered to homeowners in an upscale, flood-prone Lauderdale County subdivision suggests that county regulations "were not followed very well" during its development.
The report, prepared by Kemp Associates at the request of the Eagle Pointe Homeowners Association, identifies a number of unmet specifications it says are required by the county's subdivision regulations, adopted in 1977.
The report indicates that undersized drainage structures and low-lying roads contributed to extensive flooding that damaged about 11 Eagle Pointe homes valued at nearly $2.5 million after heavy rains in April. One home valued at $229,080 was completely destroyed and condemned as uninhabitable after floodwaters cracked its foundation.
The rains began April 6 when 9.2 inches fell on the area, forcing a nearby drainage canal over its banks. On April 24, another 8.65 inches fell on the area in a six-hour period.
None of the homes in Eagle Pointe were covered by flood insurance and all were located in an area designated as a 500-year flood zone by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, officials have said.
But the Kemp report says the Lauderdale County subdivision regulations requires that any areas subject to flooding by a 100-year flood shall be clearly identified. The report contends that standard was violated when the Eagle Pointe maps were prepared.
Documents attached to the report show that engineer James E. Covington was the certifying engineer, as well as one of the developers, of Eagle Pointe. Covington signed off on the Eagle Point Villas maps in 1997, certifying that the project was constructed in accordance with Lauderdale County subdivision regulations.
The owner of Eagle Pointe subdivision was recorded as Eagle Pointe Development Inc., which listed Jack L. Joyner, president; Covington, vice president; and Kenneth D. Joyner, secretary-treasurer.
The Kemp report contends no storm water easement or drainage right-of-way was provided at Eagle Pointe, "contrary to what would seem to be required for the stream passing under Grand Cypress Drive," the subdivision's entrance.
At Eagle Pointe, located adjacent to and south of Briarwood County Club, storm drainage structures were built too small to adequately handle a drainage area of about 1,849 acres. In fact, the report says, the opening under a bridge on Grand Cypress Drive is only half the size of an opening under a bridge on Briarwood Road to the north.
The smaller opening, engineers said, could not handle the huge volume of water sent cascading to the south in April and floodwaters rose about 4 feet over the bridge at a point where Eagle Pointe and Eagle Pointe Villas join. Nearly all of Pinehurst Road and about half of Saddlebrook Road have also been flooded.
So far, the McKelvaine's have spent more than $20,000 for repairs.
A congested drainage canal downstream from the flooded homes has also been identified and homeowners have urged supervisors to clean and widen the drainage canal and elevate and enlarge the bridge at Grand Cypress Drive.
The report, signed by engineer Jimmy Kemp, said flooding will likely happen again in Eagle Point "and will continue to do so more often than will likely be acceptable" unless preventive measures are taken.
The reports suggests that Eagle Pointe homeowners team up with flood victims in other parts of the county and appeal to the board of supervisors and East Mississippi Business Development Corp. for assistance. It suggests that the Federal Emergency Management Agency conduct a new flood insurance study for the entire county, since it appears to have old data.
The Kemp report also suggests that the Sowashee Drainage District, a legislatively-chartered group, be reactivated to plan and construct flood prevention projects in Lauderdale County.
The Sowashee Drainage District was previously active in development and construction of flood retardant measures and a 1969 project map of the Sowashee Creek watershed shows at least 14 flood retardant projects planned in Lauderdale County. Four of them were actually built; one upstream from Eagle Point was not.
The next one in line, officials said, which might include a lake to hold excessive water runoff and a drainage back-up area, had been identified on land east of Meridian now party owned by Covington along Interstate 20/59. But, the right-of-way has not been obtained and developmental funds are said to be scarce.
State transportation officials, with the concurrence of state and local agencies, have said they plan to build a new interchange on some of that property to serve the Interstate 20/59 Industrial Park and other interests.