Fremont resident complains about drainage problems
By Jack Stephens
Published in News on October 19, 2005 1:45 PM
FREMONT -- A Fremont man told the Fremont Town Board on Tuesday night that a town storm drain has caused problems on his property and adjacent properties at the intersection of Cross Street and Charles Drive.
Darren Flowers said the town has maintained the ditch only minimally for years. Because of the lack of maintenance, he says, the water cannot escape and three big holes have been developed.
"Something needs to be done," Flowers said.
Mayor Devone Jones told Flowers that town officials would investigate the problem.
Public Works Director Tim Howell pointed out that the town is not responsible for keeping all ditches inside the town limits cleaned out.
Flowers said the problem was the storm drain pipe was dumping water in the ditch.
"The ditch is in terrible shape," he said. "The town has the responsibility to maintain what it created."
Alderman Leroy Ruffin suggested that the town form a drainage policy. It's not right, he said, for the town to asked residents to clean the ditches.
Howell then provided a list of ditches the town is responsible for.
In other business, a wheelchair-bound resident on disability, Kelly Strauss of Bryant Street, complained that when she got her electric bill in the middle of the month, she was already out of money and could not afford to pay an extra fee to have the power restored. She said she gets paid at the end of the month.
"I'm not trying to get out of paying the bill," she told the board.
Town Administrator Kerry McDuffie said he heard similar stories each month. Alderman Leon Mooring said residents have to pay on time in order for the town to maintain its power supply and keep its budget balanced.
"The town isn't a charity," said Mooring.
"I feel for them," Mooring said. "We need a policy and then stick to it."