Commissioner reports flash flooding; Progress Rail yard flooded during morning storm

During board comments a commissioner reported that heavy morning storms put the county in a yellow flash-flood status and listed several county road closures. He pointed the board to a localized problem where Progress Rail's yard and a recently paved housing parking area were contributing impervious runoff into a legal drain that appears to be backing up.

"Progress Rail is completely flooded this morning," the commissioner said, noting the site had not flooded in this way previously and that site changes may have altered the historic tile alignment. Staff said they had attempted to locate the old tile by probing and that it may have been vacated or obscured when roadway widening and sanitary sewer work occurred in the corridor.

Board staff said the problem requires coordination with the sanitary district and possibly the contractor who altered the corridor when the road was widened; they committed to further investigation and to assess whether outlet restoration or sewer-district coordination is required.

No emergency funding or formal action was taken at the meeting; staff will report back with findings.