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Residents urge action as backyard flooding worsens; city says private property limits its options
Summary
Several Norton residents described erosion, basement flooding and property loss tied to beaver dams in local creeks; staff advised petitions, contacting the game warden or hiring trappers and contractors because the city cannot act on private property without easements.
Multiple Norton homeowners told council on Monday that beaver dams and blocked creek channels are causing serious backyard flooding and erosion.
Lanny Wintrow of 1158 Gardner Boulevard said his backyard floods from a creek behind his property and that previous inquiries found easements held by utilities; he asked what the city could do. "Can you guys help me out?" he asked. City staff and council members responded that without easements or property owner permission the city cannot perform work on private land, and advised petition processes and contacting administration for next steps.
Sandy Tryon (2273 Ennis Drive) described repeated erosion, losing more than 4 feet of yard and an inability to access the opposite bank because of deep silts. She and neighbors had attempted manual clearing and pulled tree trunks from the channel but said the problem persists because the creek has not been dredged since Army Corps work decades earlier.
Darvis Gonley (2307) cited state rules and said beavers are protected outside trapping season; council members and staff advised contacting the county game warden (Zach Hellman was named) or hiring a licensed trapper who can obtain a nuisance permit and noted that removing dams afterward requires a contractor and property‑owner permissions. "If you contact a trapper, that trapper will get that permit for you," a staff member said.
Residents asked whether the city had previously removed dams; staff said earlier crews had gone onto private property in error and that present practice requires an easement or a petition. Neighbors said the lack of timely follow‑up has led to property damage and in some cases water in basements. City staff offered to walk residents through the petition process and directed them to call City Hall and ask for Mike Rohrer for assistance.
No council action was taken; the public comment period closed after council members and staff described next steps residents can pursue and resources to contact.
