Ho-Ho-Kus Brook Fix Could Cost $400K

Property owners hit hard by the compromised banks of the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook have said would cost the village much more in the long run. On Wednesday night, Village Manager Ken Gabbert revealed a study and recommended fixes will cost up to $400,000.

Since , residents of Ridgewood's low-lying areas have pointed to a series of relating to , but all have been quite clear with one conclusion – regular dredging and clearing of sandbars in the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook in the Zabriskie Ditch since has not taken place since Floyd hit in 1999.

By their estimate, the brook has since widened and become more shallow.

Even discounting the highly unusual amount of rain in 2011, residents by the brook say normal thunderstorms lead to watery basements and property damage.

In his report to the council at Wednesday's work session, Gabbert said to clear some of the debris, de-snag and remove sediment of the brook.

But to properly clear sandbars with heavy machinery, the village would need the requisite DEP permits, manpower and stomach to eat a big budgetary item.

"The recommendation from the Village Engineer for the work that needs to be done from the Village Engineer, plus all the work of actually taking the sand and rocks that need to be taken out of the brook, we're talking a $300 to 400,000 item," Gabbert said.

A portion of the total figure would be deposited toward conducting a study assessing what needs to be cleared and any potential ecological repercussions. The Engineering Department has identified the Ho-Ho-Kus border to the bridge on E. Ridgewood Ave. as the section requiring heavy machinery.

By the time that study has concluded by the Engineering Department, Gabbert said he expects the permits for more intense work in the brook to be in hand.

Large chunks of concrete wood and car parts litter the banks and are a key problem, he noted. Work to clear sandbars with excavators is expected to take about 60 to 90 days and may be ready as early as March 2012.

Any capital work to mitigate flooding is expected to cost in the six figures – in addition to the and the – but residents too may potentially face costs of their own.

Per a memo sent by the Engineering Department, there's consideration that the costs be passed onto homeowners that directly benefit from the project in the form of an assessment project.

"The residents that have had damage...are they going to be required to shore up their property...you know where the [retaining] wall came down?" Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh asked Wednesday. "It's going to be awkward for us to say you have to spend money in order for us to say we can move forward."

There are also questions as to a gas pipe pressed against the constructed cement embankment. Village and PSE&G officials each say the other is responsible for the section.

The village council would have to determine whether to commission the study and fund any recommendations it makes. A greater breakdown of cost figures will be discussed at the next work session in January, officials said.