Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Stormwater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident says stormwater overflow on Darling Street totaled her car, urges repairs
Summary
A Wilkes-Barre resident testified that a stormwater overflow last year totaled her car and that ongoing drainage failures and a connected sewer line from a neighboring multi-tenant property have left her home with recurring backups. City staff said the public drain is being redone but urged the resident to pursue civil remedies for the sewer connection issue.
Bethanne told the Wilkes-Barre council during public comment that a stormwater overflow on Darling Street about a year ago filled her car and caused it to be totaled. "It will be one year since the storm water overflow incident on Darling Street filling my car, which caused my car to be totaled with 53,000 miles," she said, and described ongoing standing water that leaves the street impassable after heavy rain.
Bethanne reported repeated sewer backups in her house. She said a contractor, Carponet Plumbing and Heating, ran a camera into a manhole in the backyard of 84 Darling Street and found the neighbor's line connected into her line; she reported that three tenants currently occupy 84 Darling. She told the council she has contacted the property manager and the out-of-state landlord without success.
City staff responded that the public storm drain on Darling Street "is being redone" by DPW and that temporary gravel work has been used while crews complete a replacement. Staff and council emphasized that the sewer-service connection between private properties appears to be a civil matter between the resident and the neighboring landlord and advised pursuing civil remedies while the public drainage project proceeds.
The council did not record any formal direction beyond confirming the drainage work is underway. Bethanne asked whether the drain work would finish before winter; staff gave no definitive completion date.
What happens next: city crews continue the public drain replacement; the resident was advised to pursue civil remedies regarding the private sewer connection and to continue contacting the property manager and landlord.
