Harrison Residents Consider Possible Solution To Flooding Problems

Twenty-seven residents of Harrison Street informally petitioned the city of Mentor early last year because they were having trouble with flooding.

Now the city has proposed a solution. However, it will not be cheap for the residents if they choose to go forward with it.

The solution, which the city discussed with the residents Tuesday, would have two parts.

First, Harrison Street has no storm sewer system, so the city would add a system in front of their homes. Then, for the homes that need it, the city would add drainage to the properties' back yards.

However, while the city would organize the work, it is the residents who will pay for it.

The proposed project would cost most of the 31 property owners between $9,000 and $12,000 each and two Munson Road residents would be asked to pay more than $17,000 each.

The homeowners could either pay the expense when the project is completed or repay it over the next 20 years.

Some of those expenses could be cut if a property owner opts not get to drainage for their back yard. However, the storm sewer system -- with a few exceptions -- is either an all-in or all-out affair.

For the project to go forward, property owners representing 60 percent of the total front footage or 75 percent of the total area would have to agree on it. (This would include all spouses and trustees, as well.)

An exception: some lots at the end of the proposed storm sewer system (which is included in this story as a PDF) can opt out of the project without affecting its viability.

Ward 3 Councilman Bruce Landeg, who represents Harrison Street on City Council, asked during the meeting if the proposed system could not extend as far as Munson Street. This would save the two Munson Road lots the risk of being outvoted and having to pay more than $17,000.

City Manager Kenneth Filipiak said said the proposed system is a preliminary design and could be adapted. However, enough home owners would still need to participate for the project to make sense.

Filipiak noted during the meeting that the residents may not be as interested in the project this year. Last year, Harrison Street's flooding problems were precipitated by record rainfall in the area.

"This year is a whole lot different than last year," Filipiak said. "We were knee deep -- no pun intended -- in rain problems last year. This year, we've had a break from that."