Col. Anthony C. Funkhouser, Northwestern Division commander, visited several projects throughout the Kansas City District during a four-day, whirlwind trip in early October with senior leaders.
Among the projects toured in the Kansas City area was the Turkey Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project. Melissa R. Corkill, project manager, briefed Funkhouser about the history of flooding in the area and how the district’s work has improved flood risk reduction as well as relationships with stakeholders.
Lynda L. Hoffman, Waterways Division manager for the City of Kansas City, Mo., and Daniel C. Fuhrman of Schutte Lumber are advocates of the project and attended the briefings. They spoke to Funkhouser about the partnership and praised Corkill’s management of the Turkey Creek Flood Damage Reduction Project.
The NWD commander was also taken to Clark’s Point at Case Park in Kansas City. There, he received a briefing from Eric S. Lynn, project manager, about the Citys of Missouri and Kansas Levee Units project. After the briefing and receiving more praise from stakeholders, Funkhouser commented on the district’s accomplishments.
“I’m really proud of my guys,” said Funkhouser. “This is graduate-level work, and I’m proud of our ability to partner with sponsors to get this work done.”
Senior leaders traveled with Funkhouser to Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth and Fort Leonard Wood during the rest of the visit to look at several military construction projects.
“We chose to highlight local civil works projects in addition to military construction projects during this trip,” said Maj. Rachel A. Honderd, deputy district commander. “Col. Funkhouser received a big dose of the Missouri River basin during the Mississippi River Commission trip in August.”