By Timothy Cox
tcox@dailystandard.com MENDON -- There are no simple answers to long-term drainage problems in the village, a resident experiencing frequent bouts of flooding was told Wednesday.
Wayne Rosenberger told council members he wants to improve the home he rents on Walnut Street and then buy it. Persistent flooding problems on the property will have to be corrected before he makes the investment, he said.
"I've got a lake in my front yard, a pond in back and a river on the side," Rosenberger told council members.
The town does not have complete storm sewer service and what infrastructure is in place has some problems, street commissioner Randy Severns said.
"This has been a ponding area for years and years," Severns said of the Walnut Street neighborhood. Council member Roy "Butch" Davis said he has seen similar problems with slow drainage and standing water in his Glen Street neighborhood.
"There's not going to be a quick fix," Davis told Rosenberger. "All over town they're backing up. It's going to take some time."
Severns said the town does not have the equipment to inspect or vacuum the sewer system. Hiring an outside firm to inspect the system and remove clogs might be a good idea, he suggested.
Severns said a lot of debris makes its way into the storm sewers. Many residents dump grass clipping and leaves along the sides of streets, but there is no municipal pickup of yard waste. Instead, the material ends up washing into the sewers and is likely the source of some of the existing problems, Severns said.
Village officials are hoping the pending reconstruction of Main Street, including new curbs and gutters, will alleviate some slow drainage problems. Further improvements to the system could come from the state Environmental Protection Agency, which is pushing municipalities to separate storm and sanitary sewers and increase maintenance of storm sewers, Severns said. |
