09-22-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 22, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 13 of 18 (10. COUNTRYSIDE DRIVE DRAINAGE ISSUES, Continued) Vitas displayed a picture from 2013 of their yard following a significant rainfall. Vitas stated the water is at least two and a half to three feet deep and overwhelms the yard. The drain tile system that drains their sump pumps has to come out in the area where the water accumulates. As a result, the sumps are overwhelmed with water. Vitas displayed a number of pictures looking up Old Crystal Bay from their property. Vitas stated their whole yard basically becomes a lake following a significant rain event. McMillan asked if that is his mound system. Vitas indicated it is not. Vitas indicated the water runs into their yard flooding it and then the water attempts to get across the street. Martini noted there is a 18-inch culvert that goes through the ditch and a 15-inch culvert that goes underneath Countryside. Further down there is another 15-inch culvert. Martini pointed out the area where he suggested replacing the 18-inch culvert with a 24-inch culvert. McMillan asked if the culvert is the main problem. Martini indicated it is his belief it is a combination of all three items that were stated earlier. Vitas stated in 1996 he met with the City Council and the City Engineer regarding the water problems. Several statements were made at that time that this house should have been a walkout. Vitas indicated the home was supposed to be a walkout but it was built with a basement. Vitas stated the other issue is at that time work was done to lay a drain tile starting up three or four homes and under the street to try to get the water to go in the culvert. Vitas indicated the drain tile was supposed to connect to their home’s tile system, which did not happen. The drain tile was also supposed to be perforated and filled with pea gravel. Vitas noted the City of Orono did not ensure that was done. There were also supposed to be six cut-ins to the drain tile system. In the ensuing years, all the properties on the road increased the hardcover on their properties and essentially chopped the system up. Vitas stated it is likely the drain tile does not do anything at this point and over the years it has become more and more of an issue. Vitas displayed a picture following a rain event in June 2014. Vitas stated the water comes down Old Crystal Bay Road and into his yard. Vitas stated in April of 1995, the initial application for this house was made. Vitas indicated he purchased the home in June of 1995 and the water issues were undisclosed. As a result, Vitas indicated in July of 1995, he began the long process of meetings with City personnel; but the work conducted in June of 1996 by Tony Eiden was never inspected by the City. From 1997 to 2011, multiple city permits were pulled by the neighbors for work that likely caused disruption to the drain tile system.