MONROE — Local authorities have laid out a time line to dry up flooding at Weddington’s Optimist Park.

“It was a far more complicated issue than anyone imagined in the beginning,” Weddington Mayor Nancy Anderson said.

A letter signed by Amy Helms, Union County’s assistant director of infrastructure and environment, to the N.C. Office of Geospatial and Technology Management informs the agency with power to levy fines and increase flood-insurance rates that an inter-local agreement was amended Sept. 4. In it, the county and Weddington agreed to work together to eliminate flooding problems caused by construction at Optimist Park.

“It always works better when you’re in collaboration than in conflict,” Anderson said.

Independent engineer company U.S. Infrastructure of Carolina will help remedy any “potential violation of the National Flood Insurance Program Regulations” by May 2010, the letter said. If it is approved, engineer work would begin as soon as possible, according to the proposal.

The letter was directed to Kenneth Ashe, assistant director of the office of Geospatial and Technology Management. It was unclear when a response would be handed down. “The state has been very cooperative and helpful and patient,” Anderson said. “I see no reason why they would change that. (USI does) this kind of work all the time and I am hoping that they are going to put forth a plan that Ken Ashe and company will accept.”