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Hilliard resident says private stormwater basin flooding basements; council staff weigh legal limits as city funds basin rehab
Summary
A Hilliard resident pleaded for immediate cleanup of a private stormwater basin after repeated basement floods; city staff said ownership is unclear and legal limits restrict work, while council approved a separate contract to rehabilitate city-owned basins.
Dominic DeSabato, a Hilliard resident, told the City Council on May 12 that a privately owned stormwater basin behind his home has flooded his basement three times since 2012 and currently leaves about 8 inches of water trapped in a pipe below his house.
DeSabato said city crews had “poked a hole” to relieve local street flooding after the most recent event but told him the basin is private so “there was no more nothing else they could do.” He asked the city to “bring a backhoe or mini excavator to have it cleaned up.”
Council members and staff described two limits on immediate action: unclear private ownership and the city’s lack of a legal easement to enter and perform maintenance on private property. Dan (staff) said property records show the legal owner may be an inactive incorporated trust with the sole member deceased, and that title and tax issues make the chain of ownership “complicated.” Kelly (staff) said the city has in the past…
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