Resident says clogged rear ditches left homes near Goldsboro Road flooded; city to clear and review grading plans

Edgar Young, a resident of 1284 Goldsboro Road, told the Boiling Spring Lakes Board of Commissioners on March 19 that rear ditches behind homes in the Highlands subdivision are not draining and that "after last week’s rain, the water rose halfway up to his house." The problem, he said, is particularly acute at the rear ditch, which at times shows no flow.

Mayor Jeff Winecoff and City Manager Gordon Hargrove said staff visited the site. Jim Stachura, the city’s stormwater engineer, told the board he has inspected the area and is developing a plan to clear the ditches and improve water flow. "We have been working with Logan Homes to clear out the ditches, which should help the water flow more quickly out of the system," Stachura said.

Stachura added that the city will review subdivision grading plans under the new Storm Water Ordinance and make necessary adjustments to direct runoff away from houses into the conveyance system. Hargrove warned that some rear ditches may lie outside homeowners' property lines; in those cases, the city will seek easements to allow access for maintenance and annual clearing.

Residents asked when work would begin; Stachura said the city expects the work to start within a few weeks. The board did not set a formal deadline at the meeting, and officials said timing will depend on property-ownership determinations and the easement process when private land is involved.

The board heard related safety concerns about Goldsboro Road speed and other infrastructure needs during the public-comment period; city staff and public-safety officials were noted as the points of contact for follow-up. The meeting adjourned after the public-comment period with no additional formal actions on this item.

The Board approved the meeting agenda at the start of the session and adjourned at 7:15 p.m.