A resident living in McQueen’s Addition on Plymouth’s east side appeared before the Marshall County Drainage Board this week seeking some kind of solution to an ongoing drainage issue.
Seana Badalich said, “We have serious drainage problem in McQueen Addition. There is literally no infrastructure whatsoever.” She says that when we experience bigger rains there is so much run-off water that kids use inter tubes in the street to float. She also told the drainage board that home on the north end are experiencing septic system failures and roadways are crumbling.
Badalich contends that building permits have been issued over the years far beyond the original plan of 20 homes. The subdivision has about 60 homes now and their drainage system is basically a farm tile.
Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said that he and County Surveyor Larry Fisher recently met with representatives of Commonwealth Engineers who completed a watershed survey on the city’s east side including Candy Lana and Warana Drive. Hoping to dove-tail into their project with the city’s, the county was given an estimate of $22,500 to complete a study of the Suseland water shed.
Larry Fisher told Badalich he attempted to address this issue over the years but determined it was very complicated and expensive with no simple process. He explained that the water works it way to the city and uses a storm drain on Pennsylvania Avenue to get to the Yellow River. He said the drain isn’t big enough to accept any more storm water so a joint project would need to be completed with the city.
The drainage board suggested Badalich do a petition drive of the neighborhood to see how many are interested in finding a solution. If there is support for a project then the drainage board will try and find the funds needed to conduct the study so they can determine a cost estimate for the project.
