Surveyor Needed

(posted 4.20.07)

It is still a toss up whether the Marion County Surveyor's Office or HNTB will survey the 2000 block of Gerrard Avenue. A lack of information on an hourly rate prevented the council from making a decision at the April 9th meeting as to what surveying team to use. The Marion County Surveyor's Office is free, but the office is currently busy with other projects.

HNTB Engineer Gordon Evans did not report HNTB's hourly surveying rate to the town manager as directed by the council at the March 26 meeting. Evans instead announced at the April 9 meeting the road elevations would be shot by the entity that could get to the area the quickest.

The project has been stalled for several months waiting for accurate elevations of the area.

In the mean time, the 2000 block of Gerrard Avenue was socked again with high waters on April 3. The floodwater rose to car bumper levels in some spots of the street.

Lucy Tingle, 2027 Gerrard Avenue, asked the council members on March 26th when they were going to fix this 45 year old surface water problem. She blamed the drainage problem for causing a decline in property values, cracked basements, stagnant homes sales, and five foreclosures.

Tingle and other Gerrard Avenue residents have had a steady attendance at council meetings since the April 14th 2006 flood. Tingle and Pam Flaherty, 2031 Gerrard Avenue, have vocalized their constant plea for help at numerous meetings. Tingle has vowed at several meetings that she'll not go away until the problem is fixed. The ladies also persistently vocalize their issues at the storm water drainage board meetings.

Evans emphasized separating the storm water from the raw sewage lines may not prevent sewage backup if the homeowner's perimeter drain is connected to the lateral. He wanted it clear before HNTB entered into an agreement with the town to fix the surface water problems. He explained the town and residents may not receive any benefit if it is a perimeter drain issue.

Councilman Jeff Hartman was not so sure that it is a homeowner's problem. He indicated the April 3 flood is a result of the town's inability to drain the surface water in the area.

Evans admitted the surface water on 21st Street area and Gerrard Avenue has increased because of the inlet added to capture more water from Lynhurst Drive. Lynhurst Drive and 21st Street was experiencing severe water ponding during heavy rains. "The problem has shifted," he said.

Councilman Bill Golay explained the storm sewer now surcharges during heavy rain events because it is collecting more water from Lynhurst Drive.

The solution is to separate the storm water by adding new inlets and flowing the water toward the east to Dry Run Ditch by using gravity.

The storm water board needs the elevations figures to see if a gravity system would work. The board has already ruled out the use of a lift station to carry the water away because of the maintenance expense.