Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Drainage topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
North Royalton resident says altered drainage has left property 'a swamp,' urges city to act
Summary
At a May 6 Storm Water Committee meeting, resident Karen Salvatore described a long-standing drainage change that she says reversed historic flow, created swamp conditions on her mother's yard and led to repeated 50-foot tree failures; city officials agreed to a site visit and to contact NEORSD for historical topography.
Karen Salvatore, a North Royalton resident, told the Storm Water Committee on May 6 that storm-water work done about 18 years ago reversed a historic drainage flow near Gregory Lane and Hawley, sending water into her mother’s back yard and creating what she described as a persistent swamp.
"Since February I’ve had five 50-foot trees fall in her yard," Salvatore said, recounting repeated uprooting and erosion she attributed to the altered flow. She said a newly created ditch and changes to the street grade mean water no longer drains as it did for decades, causing standing water, mosquito problems and damage to vegetation.
The committee heard that crews have cleared clogged inlets and remove debris when called; Wastewater Superintendent Ed Haller told the committee that crews prioritize known hot spots and schedule overtime when heavy rain is expected. Haller also said the city is expecting 90% review plans from the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD) and anticipates construction to begin in spring 2027.
Committee member Matt Coleman said he toured Salvatore’s property, collected photos and provided written documentation for the record. "So, this is a matter of record now," Coleman said.
Mayor Paul F. Marnecheck told Salvatore the city will pursue a coordinated response: he proposed a site visit with the ward councilman, the Wastewater Superintendent and the city engineer, and said he would contact NEORSD to request historical aerial imagery or topographic data and to check whether the parcel sits in a floodplain. "I also want to look at if it’s on a floodplain, again get a holistic approach to it, if you’re comfortable with that," Marnecheck said.
Resident Rich Harrell provided historical context, saying the by-road ditch has posed problems since the 1950s and describing shallow groundwater and wetland conditions on some back lots. Harrell said a past sewer excavation collapsed because of the high water table and that some lots were sold with wetland conditions that restrict clearing.
Chair Sarah Wojslaw acknowledged the problem and said she and others are compiling historical documents to understand the issue’s origins and possible remedies. She cautioned there is likely no quick fix but confirmed committee members and staff are continuing to gather information.
The meeting record shows two procedural motions: the committee approved the April 7, 2026 minutes (moved by Chair Sarah Wojslaw; seconded by Matt Coleman; Yeas 2, Nays 0) and later voted to adjourn at 6:14 p.m. (moved by Wojslaw; seconded by Coleman; Yeas 2, Nays 0).
Next steps the committee recorded: a site visit to the property involving the mayor, the ward councilman, the Wastewater Superintendent and the city engineer; outreach to NEORSD for historical topography and imagery; and continued collection of resident-supplied documents and photos. No formal remediation plan or timetable was adopted during the meeting.
