Morgantown‑area manufacturer urges Monongalia County to resolve persistent backyard flooding after permit rescinded

Chad Matheny, who said he operates a metal roofing manufacturing business at 3488 Earl Elcore Road in Dellslow, told the Monongalia County Commission that a floodplain permit he received to raise land behind two houses was rescinded after a neighbor complaint, leaving the yards and basements of those residences flooded for about two years and creating safety and business‑operation problems.

Matheny said he hauled multiple truckloads of fill into the backyards to raise the grade so stormwater would drain toward Route 7, but the county rescinded his permit after a complaint and he has been unable to complete the work or obtain further guidance from the floodplain coordinator. "It's been at a standstill for over two years now," Matheny said. He said the standing water reaches about 2 feet in the backyard, floods basements above electrical service panels and creates a mosquito hazard in summer.

Matheny described the drain infrastructure as an older terracotta pipe roughly 20 inches in diameter that he said is silted and no longer conveys flow; he said nearby development (Eastgate) altered runoff and that the pipe now discharges into a terminated outfall area, creating a swampy area he says floods Route 7. Matheny said he has photographs showing the conditions and asked the commission for help so he can resume work and expand his business; he said the situation limits parking and rental options for two adjacent houses and hampers his ability to run and grow his operation, which employs "7 or 8" people.

County response and next steps Commissioners acknowledged the complaint and noted the county's floodplain coordinator is the administrative contact for such permits while recognizing the process has been slow. One commissioner said the county has changed floodplain coordinators during the last two years and pledged to press state and county staff for a faster resolution: "I'll light fire under that and see if we can get some kind of resolution," the commissioner said.

After the public comment period the meeting record shows staff and a commissioner agreed to speak with Matheny after the meeting to review the site and next steps. A county official (Jeff, role not specified in the transcript) told Matheny he would speak with him after the meeting.

What was not decided Matheny sought a specific remedy (permission to move fill or to dig and regrade and to "plug" a bubbling drain) but the commission did not take formal action during the meeting. Commissioners said legal remedies for disputes over rights of way or eminent domain lie with the circuit court; they also said the county can provide guidance but does not set court valuations.

Ending County officials committed to follow up with Matheny and county floodplain staff; Matheny said he would share photographs documenting the flooding conditions with county staff.