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Trustees ask attorney to press Romeo Community Schools for engineering documents after runoff floods cemetery
Summary
After trustees and staff raised concerns that recent grading at a nearby school development is diverting stormwater into the village cemetery and retention pond, the board directed the village attorney to send a letter requesting engineering drawings, easement documentation and mitigation steps.
Trustees directed village counsel May 19 to write to Romeo Community Schools seeking engineering documents and clarification about easements after staff reported new grading and fill at a school site that appears to be increasing runoff into the village retention pond and adjacent cemetery.
Clerk Lucero summarized research into historical blueprints (1956–1992) that raised more questions than answers about a purported easement. Staff reported that recent construction raised the grade near the cemetery “probably 20–30 feet” in places and that stormwater recently flooded the area south of the retention pond.
Village counsel advised the board that while a lower property generally must accept the natural flow of water from higher property, the village is not required to accept an “unnatural flow” caused by regrading or redevelopment; if an easement exists, the school should produce it and if it exceeds its claimed scope the village can assert rights. Trustees asked counsel to draft a firm but civil letter asking the school to provide engineering drawings, evidence of any easement and a plan to address the runoff and parking-area changes.
The directive covers three concerns trustees requested be included in the letter: (1) confirmation and scope of any easement related to the retention pond, (2) the impact of changed grade and runoff from new site grading, and (3) the reported construction of an informal parking area that may be on village land. Counsel recommended the school produce documents; if it cannot, trustees retain remedies under property and drainage law.
