City Council plans to fix stormwater flooding issues
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Steps are being taken by Washington City Council to fix stormwater flooding plaguing two areas of the city. Six residences on Campbell Avenue and one on Summerlea Avenue have been affected by excess water, which has caused damage to homes and surrounding properties.
At Tuesday’s agenda meeting, the council discussed proposals with Widmer Engineering Inc. to provide services, including site surveys and hydraulic reports, to the affected areas.
According to Widmer’s Sarah Boyce, the property at 920 Summerlea has had erosion issues, due mostly to a storm sewer installed in the 1970s that changed the flow of excess water. A topography study has already been done to that area, which is a tributary of Catfish Creek.
“The idea is to force the water back into its natural channel,” said Boyce.
The issue on Campbell Avenue came to light more than two years ago when resident Sandy Rogers alerted the city that a stormwater line was flooding her basement in heavy rain. She accused officials of delaying repairs and, in September, protested by camping out on City Hall steps.
Rogers said she has had severe flooding in her basement since May 2011 because a 36-inch city storm drain that runs under her house has been malfunctioning. During June 28 flooding, more than four inches of mud and water entered her home.
“I’m still getting the runaround,” said Rogers, who was not at the meeting and said she was unaware council would discuss the project. “As many surveys as they’ve done and as many engineers that have been out here, they could have had it fixed already.”
But officials expressed concern about fixing the entire flood zone, not just Rogers’ residence.
“We need a topography survey to tell where the drainage is going,” said Boyce.
The Campbell project will also require a separate door-to-door survey of the residents’ economic status, currently being conducted by the fire department, to see if those affected meet the criteria for Washington County Redevelopment Authority funds.
Council is expected to take action at Thursday’s regular meeting to determine where the money will come from for these projects. If eligible, funds could come from a Community Development Block Grant, which is dispersed by the county commissioners.
Boyce estimates that the Campbell project could cost as much as $118,000 and the Summerlea project as much as $250,000.
City Council is also looking into parking issues on Laurel Avenue after a resident complaint.
Because of the proximity to Washington Hospital, parking permits are given to residents of the area. But there are no signs indicating that permits are needed on the odd-numbered side of Laurel, leading to congestion. Mayor Brenda Davis said the city will look into the matter.