Flooded Harvey Parkway Residents Tell Council, "Do Something"

After a major morning rainstorm on Sept. 10, many residents found their properties and basements flooded--again. On Sept. 12, Harvey Parkway homeowners flooded council to complain about flooding they think has resulted from a bad sewer separation.

Joe Reitz noted the city experienced more than 3 inches of rain between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 10.

Almost two dozen of those residents attended the Sept. 12 council meeting, sharing photos of flooded basements and properties and blaming a portion of the flooding on the 2004 Jaycox Road sewer separation. Most claimed sanitary sewer backup coming into their homes, with some noting damages in the tens of thousands of dollars. Residents around the city, including numerous homes on Inwood Boulevard and Chestnut Court, reported interior flooding.

Several longtime residents said they’ve never had a problem in decades, but found themselves with sanitary sewage in their basements on this year.

Mike Triska of Harvey Parkway said he was concerned with flooding on the street and said neighbors believed it was occurring because of a storm sewer/sanitary sewer separation several years ago, since there was no flooding before the split.

Several of his neighbors told council this year was the first time they experienced flooding, and reiterated this was the third time this year extensive flooding has occurred. Most neighbors blamed the backup on the 2004 Jaycox sewer separation.

“There’s some reason we’ve been flooded twice,” 30-year resident Richard Moore said.

Robin Bommer, also of Harvey Parkway, said she’s taken numerous actions to correct problems but she has still experienced four floods this year with two of those times including sanitary sewage.

Bommer said she asked a plumber about the cause and was told it was the sewer separation.

“I’m not interested in anymore excuses,” she said. “I’ve lost thousands of dollars in personal belongings and treasures.”

Chuck Fye has lived on Lake Road near Harvey Parkway and demanded action.

“We’ve lived there since 1977 and never had a drop of water in our basement until three times this year,” Fye. “We didn’t change anything we do. We’ve made no alterations to our drains, downspouts. Somebody has failed to do some things and really there doesn’t seem to be much interest in helping us all.

“It’s time for someone who holds office to help us resolve our problems.”

Robert Stern of Harvey Parkway addressed council and Avon Lake Municipal Utiities Chief Utilities Executive Todd Danielson, who was present at the meeting.

“The issue on Harvey Parkway is sewer,” Stern said. “Mr. Danielson has admitted, Lake Road can’t handle it.”

Residents throughout Avon Lake have experienced three episodes of flooding this year. The first two were attributed to “100 year floods.”

Residents were interested in actions.

Councilmen express frustration

Councilman Larry Meiners, who heads the Sewer Committee expressed frustration.

“We need to have a meeting with utilities as to the division of responsibility. Most of you people in this room need to be on Miller Road talking to those people.”

is located on Miller Road. The Municipal Utilities is responsible for sanitary sewer issues. The city is responsible for stormwater issues.

“That’s Mr. Danielson’s problem,” Meiners said. “That’s his area. It’s frustrating for me because I can’t fix the problem.”

Councilman David Kos also expressed frustration. He and Meiners agreed some sort of action needed to be taken soon. He went as far to say a meeting would be put together and demanded a plan of action and an actual date of action, comments that drew applause from the residents in attendance.

Danielson said part of the problem was an intensity in storms this year.

He noted the city could be on track

“A lot of it comes down to intensity,” Danielson said.

Danielson said the city is rehabilitating sewers including the Bellaire project and cited a for flooding including breaks in sewers and storm drain issues. He said his department was willing to work with residents and the city to address and correct problems.

“We’re trying to work as fast as we can,” he said.

The city has held this year to address the issue.