FILE — With his family watching, resident Brian Kendrick slogs toward his home in the 500 block of W. Brady St in Butler. Following several days of rain, Sullivan Run finally overflowed the small bridge over the creek about 11 p.m. February 15, 2018.

Butler City Council awarded a contract to clean out Sullivan Run and agreed to look into a proposal from a businessman to build stormwater retention ponds on his property to alleviate flooding.

Council awarded a $19,500 contract to Bauer Excavating of Butler on Thursday to remove sediment from the creek from New Castle Street to Miller Avenue. The city cleans out the concrete U channel in the creek every two or three years.

The clean out is aimed at reducing the risk of flooding while the city it waits for the state to approve a $4 million flood-control project for the stream.

The city, which secured $252,000 from the Butler County Infrastructure Bank to cover its share of the flood-control project cost, is waiting for the Department of General Services to approve the project.

The state Department of Environmental Protection submitted the construction plans, and the city submitted the rights of way and easements obtained to General Services.

Construction is expected to begin next year.

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