Richland County committee approves stormwater study for Waterbury and Midtermere hotspots

Chair Pugh convened the Richland County committee and members voted to accept staff recommendations to award a contract to study stormwater drainage in the Waterbury and Midtermere subdivisions.

Mister Pitts, a Department of Public Works representative, described the project as “a contract award for Waterbury and Midtermere subdivision” and said the area is “one of our top five hotspot areas” identified in a 2018 criticality assessment. Pitts told the committee the study will look for ways to improve drainage and evaluate potential flood risks after the county received repeated citizen complaints about the area’s drainage.

Councilmember Gretchen Cooper (addressing the committee) asked for the list of hotspot areas so she could check whether locations in her district are included; Pitts said staff used a criticality assessment completed in 2018 to compile the list and that this site ranked among the top five.

After discussion the committee member moved to accept staff recommendations; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded votes in the affirmative from Pugh, Little, Livingston, Weaver and Aline.

The study is intended to identify improvements and next steps; Pitts said staff will return with contract details and implementation steps if the study identifies projects that require construction or further approvals.

The committee’s action authorizes the study phase; any construction or capital expenditure identified by the study would require subsequent approvals and funding decisions by the council.