Resident tells West Columbia council drainage, sinkholes and mold have made home unsafe

Heaven Aguilar Helgeson told the West Columbia City Council on Oct. 7 that recurring sinkholes, leaking stormwater infrastructure and mold around a retaining wall have made her mother’s home unsafe and caused repeated illnesses in the children who live there.

The comment came during the council’s public comment period, when Helgeson said the retaining wall — built in 2013 by ICA Engineering under a city contract and funded in part by USDA grant money — appears to lack geotextile fabric, allowing underground erosion that has led to sinkholes and foundation cracking. She said inspection reports found cracked stormwater pipes and “sewer odor” and that mold had developed in the home’s crawl space and a child’s bedroom.

Helgeson said the family has spent thousands of dollars refilling holes and had medical documentation from their pediatrician recommending relocation or immediate assistance. She also said she obtained public records showing the problem was known before the family bought the property and that the South Carolina DOT (transcript: “SEDOT”) had offered to collaborate on a $400,000 hydrologic study.

The council did not take action during the public comment slot; the council chair ended Helgeson’s time when her three-minute allotment expired. Council members did not provide a public response on the record at that time about next steps.

Why it matters: Helgeson’s comments raise potential public-works and public-health issues tied to city-contracted infrastructure, stormwater management and property safety. If verified, the claims could require engineering, remediation and coordination among the city, the original engineer and external grant or state partners.

Details from the record: Helgeson said: “That wall appears to have been built without a properly installed geotextile fabric, leading to underground soil erosion and cracking in her home's foundation.” She reported that engineering inspections found “cracked stormwater pipes and possible leaking drainage infrastructure beneath the property,” and that a pediatrician’s written recommendation from 2024 advised relocation or immediate assistance due to mold exposure.

What the council record shows: The transcript captures Helgeson’s allegations and references to prior correspondence and a suggested hydrologic study but does not include a staff report, a formal staff response, engineering findings supplied to council on the dais, or a council motion to investigate during the meeting. The transcript also records a reference to ICA Engineering and to USDA grant funding in 2013.

Next steps noted by speaker: Helgeson asked for help; the transcript does not record any immediate direction, assignment or guaranteed follow-up from council during the meeting.

Ending: Residents who raised public-health or infrastructure complaints during council public comment are commonly directed to follow up with city administration or staff; the transcript does not show whether the council or staff committed to a specific inspection, remediation plan, or point of contact following this comment.