Resident describes driveway damage; speakers press county to consider impervious-surface fee

A Hamilton County homeowner told commissioners on April 3 that a modification to a county-managed road has caused recurring runoff and structural damage to her driveway and yard, and she urged the board to fix the problem.

Cynthia Hucker said her family’s home on Old Corine has been damaged since the county engineer’s office made a change to her driveway approach. “Eric has recommended that I sue Hamilton County,” Hucker said. “I don't wanna sue anyone. I just want my property to be fixed.” She said the problem has persisted for three years and that “every time it rains, my property is being damaged more and more.”

The board heard related appeals during public comment for broader stormwater funding. Larry Falcon told commissioners “Hamilton County is wet and getting wetter,” and urged support for an impervious-surface fee to fund stormwater management. Erica Jaska, identified as a sustainability engineer from Cincinnati, told the board the fee would “get everybody in the county involved in helping with stormwater management, not relying on MSD to solve that problem” and argued the charge would also promote equity and new maintenance revenue for MSD.

County Administrator Jeff Alito told the board he would follow up with staff and with Hucker’s case. “We will take a look at that directly, and get back to the board on that,” Alito said. Commissioners did not vote on a specific stormwater policy at the meeting.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they will pursue follow-up and indicated the county has some ability to respond to recurring damage on county right-of-way. Residents and engineers urged a long-term revenue approach — an impervious-surface fee — to fund preventive work and reduce reliance on the Metropolitan Sewer District.

Details and next steps: Hucker said she provided the commissioners a written backstory and video showing water flow and asked the county to repair landscaping and the driveway. Alito committed to reviewing the complaint and returning to the board with a summary. Falcon and Jaska flagged continuing heavy rain and the need for revenue to maintain infrastructure; no ordinance, fee schedule, or timeline was proposed or adopted at the meeting.

The meeting’s public-comment segment also included a speaker who said she and family members have repeatedly dug trenches and taken temporary measures to protect the house from runoff; she pleaded with the board to accept responsibility for damage originating on county property.