Storm Drains Added To Halt Home Flooding

After her basement flooded twice during violent summer storms, Joann Schneidmiller asked the county for more than a Band-Aid to fix the problem.

The county responded with surgery.

Crews cut trenches along Sinto Avenue and added two new double-depth storm drains in the county right-of-way last week in an effort to catch the 5,000 gallons of water that have gushed into the basement of Schneidmiller’s Dishman area home two times since 1991. The latest incident occurred during a July storm that drenched the area.

The project cost the county about $5,000. The storm drains are approximately 14 feet deep and tripled the water capacity on the 10300 block of East Sinto.

Work began last Monday and is to be completed this week.

Barring a storm that produces more water than the previous two storms, county Public Works Director Dennis Scott was cautiously optimistic the drains would solve the problem.

“It certainly will take on more water,” Scott said. “But you never know what’s going to solve the problem.”

Schneidmiller’s home sits at the bottom of a cul-de-sac on Sinto. The road slopes toward an existing storm drain in front of her home which has overflowed during both storms, leaving the water to puddle in Schneidmiller’s yard and basement.

The new storm drains were added to help the existing storm drain accommodate the large rushes of water.

“If they’ve got (the drains) there and there, by the time (the water) gets here I shouldn’t get the whole brunt of it,” Schneidmiller said as she surveyed the work.

Following the second flood, Commissioner Steve Hasson sent a two-page memorandum to Scott, telling him to handle the problem.

Schneidmiller’s house and belongings have sustained at least $10,000 worth of damages during each of the two deluges.

“Our systems are designed to handle average or a little above average water,” Scott said. “When we get water above average we should expect a little flooding. Unfortunately, whoever built her house did not do a very good job of protecting it from surface water runoff.”

The schoolteacher has filed a claim with the county for damages done to her house and yard by the rush of water. Schneidmiller expects a decision from the county this week.

The claim appears to be a formality. During an interview two weeks ago, Hasson said the county would pick up the bill.

“They have been very gracious and very kind,” Schneidmiller said.

County taxpayers paid to repair damages to Schneidmiller’s basement and replace her belongings following the first flood in July 1991.

, DataTimes