Jana DeForest, a Payson resident, told the Common Council on Oct. 8 that stormwater from Sherwood Drive overtopped a sidewalk during a heavy rain on Aug. 1, 2022, causing severe erosion and damage to a retaining wall at her property.

DeForest said town staff inspected the site and concluded modifications to a culvert and manhole did not match the approved 1996 civil improvement plans and appeared to have been made without permits. She said town staff told her the Woodhill Homeowners Association is responsible, under the recorded plat, for maintaining infrastructure in the drainage easement but that the HOA has denied responsibility.

DeForest said a town inspection on March 14, 2023, found the pipe extension was obstructed with silt and sediment, reducing capacity, and that the roadway overtopped due to inadequate storm drain capacity. She recounted meeting with Larry Halberstadt, whom she said acknowledged there was no permit for the culvert extension and suggested construction defects such as inadequate compaction may be a cause.

At a July 21 meeting, DeForest said, the town agreed to review curb and gutter elevations along Sherwood Drive and make corrections to ensure roadway runoff reaches the sidewalk scupper at the low point. In her remarks to council she asked the town to follow through on corrections and to clarify which party is responsible for removing the unpermitted culvert extension.

Town staff previously inspected the site and recorded that the modifications did not match the approved civil plans and that maintenance responsibility lies with the HOA per the recorded plat. DeForest requested copies of permits and approvals for the drainage and culvert work; she said she had obtained the building permit for her residence but not for the street or culvert modifications.

Action requested: DeForest asked the council to ensure the town reviews and corrects the elevations so the scupper functions as designed and to clarify enforcement steps for unpermitted drainage modifications.

What happens next: At the meeting DeForest said a town review was promised on curb and gutter elevations; no formal council action was recorded in the meeting minutes on this specific property complaint.