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North Ridgeville resident says repeated basement flooding destroyed property; mayor says city is investigating
Summary
At the Feb. 3 North Ridgeville City Council lobby session, resident Bill Lawrence described recurring basement flooding and alleged delayed city response; the mayor said staff have inspected the home, have been in contact and will continue to work with the family.
Bill Lawrence, a North Ridgeville resident, told City Council on Feb. 3 that recurring water and sewage intrusions at his Winfield Farms home have caused repeated damage and that he has not received timely assistance from the city.
Lawrence said he and his family moved into the home in November 2021 and identified construction defects and ongoing water problems. "We finally flooded. Four inches of water remained in our basement despite four pumps continually pumping that water out to the driveway 4 days," Lawrence said. He told council he has paid for inspections and repairs, cited an inspector’s report he said found more than 40 violations, and said a structural engineer determined the flow was caused by a pressurized water source.
Why it matters: Lawrence described both immediate property damage and concerns about public-safety related infrastructure (hydrants he said may not function). He said he has waited days for city response and that other residents have contacted him with similar complaints.
Mayor (role: Mayor) responded during the administrative reports portion of the meeting. The mayor said city employees "have been in constant contact with Mr. Lawrence and have spent countless hours trying to help him with his private property issues at multiple times at my direction" and that staff have inspected the property. The mayor added, "We understand his frustration with his situation. We'll continue to try to help him find solutions to these issues. We do not believe that the city has caused the problem." The mayor also noted the city's topography and a high water table in some areas as contributing factors to flooding.
Council members did not take a formal vote or direct specific new action during the meeting; Lawrence's remarks were heard during the public lobby session. In his remarks, Lawrence requested an inspection of nearby fire hydrants because he said the hydrants may not function; the mayor said hydrant inspection arrangements would take place when weather permits and that staff had been involved in investigating the matter.
Context and next steps: The mayor said the city has taken steps to reduce flooding over the past five years and that staff remain engaged. Lawrence said he had been waiting 27 days for a promised follow-up call from the mayor. Council did not announce a formal timeline for additional city action at the meeting.
Ending: Lawrence's comments were the primary public comment at the Feb. 3 meeting. Council members moved on to scheduled business after the mayor's response. No formal council motion concerning Lawrence's property was introduced that evening.
