Hillsboro residents request solution to alley drainage problem
Staff reporter
They're new to town, only being in Hillsboro for a year, and they want to do the right thing.
The Hendersons are good neighbors.
Jeff and Julie Henderson and their two children live in a modest ranch-style house in the 500 block of South Wilson Street.
When they bought their house, they installed egress windows in the basement so they could turn those rooms into bedrooms. With the first major rainfall in May, water that had been draining into their backyard for years was now running into the basement through a new window.
"We didn't know there was a problem until May," Jeff said, when the family had three feet of water in the basement.
Water from the Hendersons' neighbors to the west runs into their yard and the yards of most of the residents on that block because water runs down hill and the west side of the 500 block of South Wilson is about a half foot lower than the east side of the 500 block of South Adams.
Henderson then decided it was time to bring the issue to the attention of Hillsboro City Council. He was able to contact most of his neighbors and encouraged them to attend the Aug. 7 meeting.
At the meeting, and later when interviewed, Henderson said it was important that the city addresses the whole problem and not just his family's property.
"I want this problem fixed for my neighbors, too," he said.
What exacerbates the flooding is the alleyway between the high property of Adams and the low property of Wilson. Instead of a grass alley where water could soak in or at least the grass might slow down the run-off, the alley is a hard surface.
Mayor Delores Dalke said she sympathized with the neighbors.
"My alley is the same way," she said.
Twenty or more years ago, the city decided to put an asphalt material on some of the alleys. Unfortunately, the hard surface causes run-off to, well, run off and through the back yards of residents on Wilson.
Since the May flooding and subsequent wash-outs, the Hendersons had a contractor move dirt around in the back yard to provide a berm to retain some water or at least slow it down.
The Hendersons also have put covers on the basement windows in an effort to avoid another washout.
"I know Dale Franz (his neighbor to the south) has several feet of water in his backyard about any time it rains," Henderson said.
Henderson also is concerned about his neighbor to the north, Dorothy Foth.
When flood water runs through the Hendersons' back yard, it also runs in between the two properties, washing out vegetation.
The Tabor College biology professor and his family moved to Hillsboro from Elgin, Ill., a suburb of Chicago. This is the first time they've been confronted with a property issue of this kind and they want to address it properly.
"We think the solution for everyone would be to return the alley to grass and have a drainage ditch put on either or both sides of the alley," Henderson said. A natural slope would run the water down the alley to the north and on to D Street instead of through the yards and Wilson Street.
This one block of alley is somewhat unique because it is not utilized like some alleys. There is only one garage along the alley but it is not accessed from the alley. City refuse is picked up from the street.
The only purpose of the alley, Henderson said, was for the city easement — access to sewer, water, and electrical services.
At the council meeting, Henderson presented a petition to the council from the neighborhood.
City employee Dale Dalke observed the water flow during the last rain storm, Henderson said.
Mrs. Foth agreed.
"There is a lot of water in the yard and in (my basement) window wells," Foth said. "It is really bad."
Franz said he had water to his basement after the last rain.
"The alley looked like a lake," he said.
Henderson asked the council to consider having an engineer determine the most efficient way to drain water to the north.
"I don't want this solution to cause problems for others," Henderson said.
Mayor Dalke responded that the city engineer, Bob Privatera, had been asked to look at the situation and put together a plan.
"We have taken note of your concerns. It's definitely on the city's radar screen," Dalke said, but added there has to be a plan.
A time frame was not given because the city is going to look at other drainage issues and prioritize accordingly.
Later in the meeting, the council discussed the issue.
"We get calls every time it rains and sometimes before," Dalke said. "We don't have money for all of these."
Councilman Bob Watson said an analysis would give the council an idea of the cost.
Councilman Shane Marler suggested the problem areas be identified and get a cost analysis to remedy the problem.
Privatera said he would gather information and make suggestions at a future meeting.
Dalke noted that the alley behind her house was built up and caused problems. She also noted that most of the alleys in the city are not used for trash service, except in the downtown area.
"I know the squeaky wheel gets the oil and we plan to keep on squeaking until it's fixed but we want it fixed for everyone," Henderson said.
