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Alburnett council eyes stormwater cost‑share program after resident describes years‑long yard flooding
Summary
Council discussed an aging drainage problem in the Longworth neighborhood where an upstream tile and private drainage have left one homeowner unable to mow his yard; staff said the attorney’s review finds the drainage is private but asked council whether to pursue a voluntary stormwater cost‑share program modeled on Monticello’s ordinance.
A resident who identified himself as Chad told the Alburnett City Council on July 9 that chronic backyard flooding has left parts of his property permanently saturated and impaired; the council spent the better part of an hour discussing possible responses and whether to pursue a new stormwater cost‑share program.
Chad described tiles and sump pumps from upstream neighbors discharging into a 4‑inch tile that backs up onto his property. “For 7 years, I can’t mow my yard,” he said. “It’s not my water.” He said neighbors had proposed a subdivision‑wide payment plan in the past but the project stalled when one homeowner declined. Council members and staff acknowledged the situation is longstanding and frustrating.
City staff reported a legal review finding the affected drainage infrastructure is private and thus the city has no automatic maintenance obligation. Staff presented two options: take no action, or develop a stormwater cost‑share program that would allow homeowners to apply for matching funds for private stormwater projects. The Monticello program staff provided as a model allows the city to match up to 50% of eligible project costs and requires applications and contracts to protect city funds.
Council members pressed technical questions about whether an individual mitigation could worsen downstream properties and whether the city should require stamped drawings or engineered plans for proposed fixes. Public‑works and engineering staff said applications would be evaluated and the council could set standards and contract terms to limit risk.
Mayor said staff will follow up with the city attorney about whether private connections can be forced to reroute into the official storm system and will look for any state code or past local ordinance language that prohibits discharging stormwater onto neighbors. The council expressed interest in researching a cost‑share ordinance but did not adopt one at the meeting; staff will return with drafted language and examples from other municipalities.
Resident accounts, staff recommendations and legal guidance are recorded in the meeting record; no formal funding decision was made at this session.
