By Wade Linville
When it rains, it floods. That’s the message some Russellville residents had for village officials when speaking of their properties during last week’s Russellville Village Council meeting.
According to some resident’s appearing before council during the March 12 meeting, drainage issues within the village are causing their yards to be buried in feet of water each time heavy rain hits the area. And the rainy winter only seems to have made things worse.
Russellville resident Angela Thomas, as well as two of her family members who reside in the village, presented pictures of their flooded properties to council members during the March 12 meeting with hopes that the village can do something to fix the problem.
Residents and village officials said the flooding problems appear to be caused by damaged culverts and blocked drainage ditches within the village, but there is still a bit of confusion as to who is responsible for the needed repairs.
After recently receiving a letter from the Village of Russellville, Russellville resident Glenn Fisher appeared before council during the March 12 meeting.
“What’s the issue with my property?” Fisher questioned Russellville Mayor Ricarda Steele.
“We have several issues, which we are going to talk about tonight, of property drainage,” Steele replied.
“You guys have told me for three years that it’s not on my property,” Fisher said to village officials regarding one of the culverts causing flooding problems in the village.
According to Mayor Steele, the village has already taken steps in an attempt to fix the drainage issues in the village. The village has already met with Brown County Engineer Todd Cluxton and is hoping to obtain grant money to help fund repairs.
The repairs are expected to be costly.
According to Steele, Cluxton quoted a price of $15,000 for the repair of a damaged culvert in one area of the village, and to fill a couple of nearby sinkholes in the process of the culvert repair. Steele and council members also discussed getting price quotes from other places for drainage repairs.
According to Russellville Solicitor David Grimes, if repairs are done, they need to be done correctly for the village to avoid any liability risk for problems that may occur in the future.
“If you’re going to do it, you have to do it right,” said Grimes.
Russellville council member Don Salisbury felt that the homeowners should have some financial responsibility if part of the drainage problem is found to be on their properties.
“I think the homeowner should bear some responsibility,” said Salisbury.
Steele said the first thing the village needs to do is find a way to fund the repairs. If the grant falls through, the village may have to look into obtaining a loan for the repairs or grants from other sources.
Steele felt the village had a moral responsibility to help fix the flooding and other water-related problems on properties in the village.
In their attempt to resolve some of the water issues in the village, Russellville council members conducted their second of three readings on Ordinance No. 2019-02 during the March 12 meeting, an ordinance declaring nuisances of land not properly filled or drained. However, there were changes in the ordnance expected to take place before its third and final reading is conducted, which is expected to take place during the April 11 village council meeting.
One change expected is to Section E of the ordinance, which would prevent those within the village from constructing, maintaining, or keeping any artificial lake or pond within the limits of the village.
“I don’t see anything wrong with having fish ponds,” said Salisbury.
Salisbury also felt the $150 fine for each day of continued violation was a bit steep, and gave people in violation of the ordinance little time to comply before the daily fines add up.
The ordinance, if passed, will result in fines for property owners if their land within the village is to become filled with stagnant water, if putrid substances are permitted to remain on any lot or land within the village, or if their culverts or watercourses (creeks, brooks, or branches thereof) become obstructed. There are also other sections in the ordinance that, if passed, can result in fines. A copy of the ordinance can be found at the village office and, according to Steele, the copies of the ordinance have been posted throughout the village.
While the process may not be quick, the village is not wasting time to find a solution to the drainage problems.
“What we need to do is get this addressed as soon as we can,” said Steele.
In other news, Jefferson Township (Russellville) will hold cleanup days May 30-June 1.
