Regency Highlands 2 residents urge city action on flooding, exposed gas lines; city staff promise follow-up

Two residents from the Regency Highlands 2 condominium complex told Parma council on April 7 that repeated sewer overflows and pooling runoff are causing safety and property risks, including exposed plastic gas lines and a deteriorating access roadway.

“My name is James Powers… We now have exposed plastic gas lines due to sewers overflowing every rain day,” Powers told the council. He said the complex faces the “real possibility of serious property loss” and the potential collapse of the only entrance and exit, which would endanger access for emergency services.

Tom Edwards, another resident, told council that a long retaining wall behind the complex was built without an adequate footer and is failing; he said contractors have begun repairs but that significant costs remain. “There’s absolutely no footer. The backfill was nothing but dirt and rocks,” Edwards said, describing bulging and water-pressure damage to the wall.

Council and staff responses: the chair asked the resident to provide details to Paul Schlay, identified in the meeting as an assistant engineer from the building department, and said staff had already received a report about the site the previous Friday. The mayor’s office and the building department indicated they would follow up; Paul Schlay and Mark Morrow (building department staff) were asked to collect contact information and pursue inspection and remediation steps.

Ending

City officials said the building department will follow up with the residents and that the administration will evaluate possible remediation or assistance; no formal vote or funding commitment was taken at the meeting.