The cost of road repairs is estimated at nearly $100,000.
Workers from Palmer Paving repair flood damage to Beebe Road in Monson on Monday after weekend storms pounded the area.MONSON - The state of emergency, in place since Sunday's storm that dumped nearly six inches of rain and damaged close to a dozen roads, will be lifted on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
The Board of Selectmen, at their Tuesday meeting, voted to lift the state of emergency after they were updated about the progress of road repairs by Highway Surveyor John R. Morrell.
The board also will seek authorization from the state Department of Revenue to deficit spend to cover the $97,680 cost to fix the roads, and will revisit the funding at the Special Town Meeting in the fall.
"Essentially we do have the funding to pay for this," Town Administrator Gretchen E. Neggers said.
She said the town has approximately $500,000 in its stabilization account. She commended Morrell for keeping the costs of the road repairs low, and restricting the use of outside contractors.
All roads were reopened by 6 p.m. Sunday, and selectmen and Neggers praised Morrell for his quick work. She noted that the storm was not "a disaster," but an "emergency."
Monson experienced similar flash flooding issues in 2001 and 2005, Neggers said.
Outside the meeting room, Morrell said the remaining safety issues regarding the roads should be resolved Wednesday. He said he takes these incidents in stride, having worked for the department for 42 years.
"It's part of the job. It's part of what happens and we're prepared for them," Morrell said.
He did say "it's too bad we keep getting hit like this." Last year, the town was struck by a tornado in June, then an unprecedented snowstorm in October.
Roads that were affected by Sunday's rains were Beebe, Fenton, Chestnut, T-Peck, Wood Hill, Reimers, Aldrich and High, as well as Harrison Avenue and Homer Drive.
Beebe and T-Peck roads, along with Chestnut Street, had the worst damage, as pavement was washed away and sink holes were created. Beebe Road lost 215 feet of roadway in the storm, Morrell said.