Highland Heights to Help Residents with Flooding Problems

city officials want to provide a short-term solution to solve basement flooding problems while working toward a long-term fix. Service Director Thom Evans said Cuyahoga County funds can be used to pay for backflow devices that will keep water from filling up basements.

"The county is completely on board with us adopting a policy allowing for backflow devices," Evans told City Council members at a committee meeting. "Funds have been collected for use in Highland Heights. If that's how we want to use them, the county is on board."

Evans anticipates that 20 to 25 residents will want to install the devices. They will be required to use a company on the county's registered list of contractors and the city will provide reimbursement.

Council members discussed paying half of the cost, but there was more support for paying 100 percent of the bill – up to a certain amount, likely to be $1,500. A measure to create a budget for the program is expected to be on the agenda of the Nov. 22 council meeting.

Meanwhile, city officials will continue to work with the county to test sewers on Highland and Lander roads and other problem areas to devise a more permanent solution.

"We recognize this (backflow devices) as a temporary means to try and give our residents some level of comfort," Evans said.