Council ponders winter troubles

EAST HOPE — Water will take the path of least resistance, and in East Hope runoff is finding its way into the driveway, yards and basements of three residents council members were informed at last week’s meeting.

In correspondence to the city, three families on Lookout and Lakeview Streets are complaining that a culvert above their properties is allowing excessive flooding on their property.

“I walked the property this morning and was walking through water on top of the lawn that could not drain off fast enough,” wrote homeowner Amy Childress, “The water falling off the road near the steps is remaining on the lawn above and east of the house thus deep-soaking those two sides of the basement as well . . . causing unusually damp conditions conducive to molds which can create unwanted problems.”

Residents acknowledged that the city’s installation of sand bags have been helpful in reducing damage, but feel more should be done.

“There’s nothing we can do right now,” council member Ed Butler said. “We’ll have to wait until winter is over.” The council agreed that the culverts above these properties should be inspected and decisions will be made in the spring.

Sticking with damage issues, the council was shown pictures of frost heaves on Cedar Street. Butler said that Cedar Street has been showing signs of alligator tracking since 1998 and nothing short of a new road will fix the problem.

Maintenance workers put in gravel to fill the largest pothole, but even with the minimal traffic on that road, it hasn’t held. The question to the council was whether or not to spend an additional $600-plus to temporarily fix the road.

“We have a plan for a permanent fix, but it’s a summer job,” Butler told authorities. “As long as traffic is getting through there’s no point in throwing $1,000 away.”

Council advises residents to use caution while using Cedar Street and to contact city hall if the road worsens.

In order to fund the two projects, the council will need to open the budget for the fiscal year. A public hearing will be held at the next council meeting to discuss moving funds around to enable the city to move forward with improvements.

According to city clerk, Christy Franck, several years ago in order to fund the building of the fire station without going to levy or bond, the city borrowed from itself. Now the plan is to pay itself back. The general fund will pay sums to the street and water fund.

“It’s really just paperwork,” Franck said, “It’s like robbing Peter to pay Paul, only a little different.”

In other business, authorities will be conducting a series of workshops to discuss building permit fees. The city’s fees have not changed since 2001 and several scenarios will be analyzed to determine if the fees need to be modified.

The next city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m. at East Hope City Hall.