Acorn Village residents demand review, ask county for halt after Kings Court grading linked to weekend flooding

Acorn Village homeowners told the Monongalia County Commission on June 18 that grading and earthmoving at the Kings Court development preceded a flooding event on Sunday that damaged properties in their neighborhood and that the developer proceeded ahead of installed stormwater controls.

Residents said the developer’s work diverged from plans they believed had been approved, and they asked the commission whether it can temporarily halt construction while the plans and permits are re-reviewed.

The concerns matter because residents say the work allowed extensive alteration of the site before the stormwater management system was in place, producing runoff that flooded yards and homes. Lou Anne Hendershot, speaking for multiple homeowners, said the grubbing and grading permit allowed “extensive alteration before the installation of the storm water management system designed to protect our community” and that the deviation resulted in “a flooding event that significantly damaged many of our properties.”

Neighbor Nancy Eisentraut told commissioners she and others “got completely flooded” on Sunday and said she had contacted county officials twice in the two weeks before the event asking for help. Business owner Chad Matheny described persistent drainage problems at other locations and said several storm drains appear plugged or stagnant. Matheny said he had tried to involve the state Division of Highways but was told the drainage appeared to be a property-owner issue.

Commissioners and staff treated the statements as substantive complaints requiring fact-finding rather than immediate enforcement action. Commissioner Sean said he regularly forwards resident concerns to the county planner and asked that Andrew, the county planner, provide the commission with a summary report on what occurred over the weekend and whether any actions by the developer could have contributed to the flooding. The president of the commission said he would “look into that immediately” and requested an update later in the day.

Speakers asked whether the commission has the authority to issue a temporary stop-work order; residents also requested an immediate work session that would include the commission and “all relevant stakeholders.” Commissioners said the planning office enforces permitting parameters and that the commission’s direct, unilateral authority to halt private development is limited; they did not issue a stop-work order on June 18.

Commissioners said they have contacted the Municipal Utilities Board and the Division of Highways and that the county floodplain coordinator and county planner are involved. Commissioners repeated they will seek factual information from staff and from the developer before taking further public-facing action.

The commission did not vote on any enforcement measure at the June 18 meeting. Instead, the body directed staff to prepare a factual summary of the recent work and the sequence of events that led to the flooding so the commission can determine whether further administrative or legal steps are warranted.

The residents who spoke requested a prompt work session and clearer communication from permitting staff. Commission members said they would follow up after reviewing the planner’s report.

The county’s next step is to receive and review the planner’s summary and any available inspection and permit records; commissioners indicated they would then decide whether to call a work session, seek counsel, or take other administrative actions.