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Staff asks board for direction after Poplar homeowners face basement flooding; officials caution about precedent
Summary
Staff described repeated backyard flooding for four Poplar homes adjacent to the Hawthorne ditch and proposed options ranging from certified-notice code enforcement to subcontracting work and billing the property owner; some board members warned using public resources on private property could set a risky precedent.
Staff reported site visits to four homes on Poplar whose backyards abut the Hawthorne ditch and described a persistent water flow from a six-inch pipe on an adjacent vacant property. Staff said owners have sought relief and that one resident spent about $32,000 to repair basement damage. "She had to spend 32,000 to fix her basement," staff said, urging the board to consider options.
Officials discussed potential responses: request written access from the adjacent landowner, send certified code-enforcement notice if required, or subcontract the necessary work and bill the property owner for costs plus town time. A committee member cautioned against using public funds and creating a precedent: "I don't think it's a wise precedent to set to use public, funds or resources on private property," the member said, and recommended exploring whether current code already provides an enforcement pathway. Staff said they will provide property-owner details and follow up with legal and survey checks before proceeding.
No formal decision was recorded; board members asked staff to gather more information on ownership, surveys and code authority before any town resources would be engaged.
