Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Drains topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident says DOT repair worsened drainage on Wonderland Drive; town says DOT will investigate
Summary
A resident told council that a long-running drainage problem on Wonderland Drive has worsened after NC DOT's temporary fill blocked a drainage pipe; Town Manager Adam McLam said DOT performed a short-term fill and plans to return in the next several days to investigate, and the town will monitor and pursue action if DOT does not follow through.
Joe Mucci, a resident, told the council the town's patching work on Wonderland Drive has "made it worse," saying a sealed drainage pipe now sends water into his and his neighbor's yards and has left one neighbor's driveway ruined. "They put dirt in the hole and what they've done now is they've made it worse," Mucci said, describing sandbagging and the prospect of his house flooding after two-and-a-half years of unresolved complaints.
Town Manager Adam McLam replied that NC DOT crews filled the hole as a short-term fix and told the town they would return to investigate and determine a permanent repair. "NC DOT is the one that came out there today and put the dirt in the hole... they were doing that as a short-term fix and then they are going to come back out there and investigate it," McLam said. He noted utility congestion in the area could require road closure if major work is needed and that the town has stormwater funds it could use with DOT permission.
Why it matters: Mucci warned the situation could cause home flooding; he said he would pursue legal action if his house floods. Council members asked staff to stay on DOT and to bring the issue back to the dais if DOT does not return within a few days. The town emphasized that Wonderland Drive is an NCDOT-maintained street, limiting immediate town work without DOT approval.
Attribution: Resident Joe Mucci raised the complaint during public comment. Town Manager Adam McLam provided the town's account of DOT's actions and the next steps.
