Riverbank resident tells supervisors county failed to maintain culvert; family reports months without water

Melissa Sandoval used the meeting public‑comment period to urge Stanislaus County and nearby city governments to address a drainage problem she says has repeatedly flooded her family’s property since 2018.

Sandoval told the Board of Supervisors she and her family have spent years seeking help after a culvert drain pipeline near Claribel and Roselle was, she says, not shown on project plans and was left unmaintained. She said the result was severe flooding that left the household without water for more than a month. She urged the county to review project plans she said were created in 2010 and signed by Chris Brady and the Modesto Irrigation District and to look into how the work was carried out.

"No resident should be left to flood and fend for themselves," Sandoval said, describing physical work she and family members carried out to protect the property and asking the clerk to accept her documentation for the public record. The clerk asked Sandoval to leave contact information so staff could follow up.

County staff did not make a detailed response in the hearing record beyond inviting her to provide materials; supervisors did not take immediate action at the meeting. Sandoval said an aunt with ties to the county tax assessor and other local officials had been unable to secure relief and alleged decisions had been motivated by concern about publicity and money. Those allegations were made from the public‑comment platform and not substantiated by evidence presented at the meeting.

The board did not announce a follow-up action at the time; the clerk collected Sandoval's contact information for staff follow-up.