Whenever it rains, the snow melts or ice thaws, residents and businesses in the village of Whitesboro and the town of Whitestown worry the Sauquoit Creek could flood again. For the last year and a half, Whitestown officials have been working with the state and other agencies to find a permanent solution.

So far, they've created a design for the Sauquoit Creek Floodplain Restoration Project, which will include restoring the creek's natural flood plain by excavating its banks.

According to the state's Regional Economic Development Council's website, the project would also include the removal of a commercial plaza in the Village of Whitesboro. But local officials say that's incorrect. 

"Certainly everyone knows that there were plazas that were impacted during the flooding, said Whitesboro Mayor Patrick O'Connor. "Two of which were in the Village of Whitesboro: the Whitestown Plaza and the small strip near Boulevard Trailers and the storefronts there. But I can tell you unequivocally, the project will not impact any commercial plazas in the village of Whitesboro."

Whitestown officials would not confirm which plaza could be removed. They only said that it is located in Whitestown on Commercial Drive. Through process of elimination, the only plaza to fit that description contains Joe Tahan's Furniture, Retro Fitness and Harbor Freight Tools. Whitestown Town Supervisor Shaun Kaleta said this project will most likely include property acquisition. About 20 letters have been sent to the affected property owners, so far 5 have responded. 

"I think it's really really important for the town to have these discussions, these open discussions with the property owners first before we necessarily disclose specific properties. Again, I want to be open and transparent with the property owners," said Kaleta. "Based on what they have to say, it's really going to determine what this project looks like."