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Residents press council on drainage and ponding near bike trail; council promises engineer at next meeting
Summary
Multiple residents raised flooding and standing-water concerns around Old Babcock Road and nearby developments; council said they are working with the town engineer and will have the engineer at the next meeting and try to arrange pumping in the short term.
Several residents addressed the council to report persistent ponding, standing water and drainage problems near Old Babcock Road, the bike trail and nearby properties. Speakers said water is pooling to depths that threaten trees, backyards and property access, and raised mosquito and safety concerns for children near the water.
Residents described culverts they believe are too small, gravel and concrete on top of storm infrastructure that they say is blocking flow, and uncertainty about where stormwater from specific yards is intended to drain. Several noted that the Army Corps or earlier contractors installed ditches and culverts but said current conditions are causing water to back up onto private yards.
Council members said the town is working with its engineer, apologized for the inconvenience and promised to have an engineer attend the next council meeting to answer technical questions. Council also said it would explore short-term options, including seeking signatures from affected property owners to allow town contractors to pump water from private property if needed, and will coordinate with contracted engineers to determine longer-term fixes.
Speakers urged prompt action because trees are threatened near structures and children could be at risk in deep, standing water. The council asked staff to bring the engineer to the next meeting and to investigate whether a temporary pump-out could be arranged with property-owner permission.
