Indian Trail updates stormwater projects, adopts ordinance changes; residents raise private drainage claim

The Town Council received a construction update on ARPA-funded stormwater improvements, adopted revisions to the stormwater utility ordinance and discussed requests by residents in the Deerstone neighborhood to help address private-property drainage that has affected two yards.

Todd Hunsinger gave a progress report on the Arbor Storm Improvements Phase 2 project, which covered culvert and channel replacements in Clover Bend subdivision and Liberty Lane. Hunsinger said the low bid for construction was a little over $1.7 million; ARPA funds financed about $1.3 million and the stormwater fund covered roughly $380,000. Contracted construction inspection (CEI) services are running under a separate contract (about $195,000), and staff said construction is nearing completion with final work and plantings to occur when seasonal temperatures allow.

Council also approved amendments to the stormwater utility ordinance. Staff told council the amendments primarily update the billing cycle (changing a 2‑year reference to four years), simplify rate language by removing the term "equivalent residential unit" (ERU) and confirm a commercial baseline value of $20.60 for now. A council member moved to adopt the amended ordinance and the motion passed unanimously; the transcript records the vote as "all in favor" but does not list individual tallies.

Separately, Deerstone residents and staff recounted a long-running drainage issue tied to upstream work on private property. Staff and council described past attempts to resolve the matter: an upstream property owner had previously stockpiled dirt that acted as an unintended berm; the owner removed the material years ago but residents still experience sheet flow to their yards. The upstream parcel has since changed hands; the current owner indicated willingness to allow town work on his property but not to fund improvements. Staff provided a rough estimate of about $30,000 to address the drainage routing and noted the matter requires easements, coordination with a future county sewer easement and legal review before any town funds are used.

Council members emphasized legal caution about using public money for privately originating drainage, and at least one councilor asked the town attorney to review the proposal. Mayor suggested staff member Melanie examine options and bring a recommendation to the next meeting; staff noted two Deerstone homeowners have offered $1,000 each toward a fix.

Hunsinger also showed before-and-after photos from Moss Cove, Swedish Ivy and Spring Morning Lane and said crews have paved several of the streets affected by the project; remaining landscaping and channel plantings will be done in the fall. The ARPA-funded project team included the construction contractor and CEI firm required by federal funding rules.

Council did not commit town funding for the Deerstone private-property work at the meeting; members requested legal review and a staff follow-up report.