Goodrich- Upgrades to a dilapidated century-old drain which had slowed to a trickle’may soon start flowing once again.
Changes in village council following the Nov. 4 election, coupled with a pending lawsuit from 19 plaintiffs seeking compensation after they were allegedly damaged by village drains, sewers, and the mill pond in the village, has stalled progress on upgrades to the Wheelock & Watkins Drain. The Genesee County Drain Commissioner’s Office, the Village and the Goodrich Country Club are three of seven defendants in the case which since August had derailed the project temporarily.
However progress could come soon.
Jim Gerth, director of surface water management for the Genesee County Drain Office, said look for meetings to resume before the end of the year.
The Wheelock & Watkins Drain is an agricultural drain, built in 1897 and which encompasses a large section of the village, impacting about 100 residents. The old drain under the jurisdiction of Genesee County has been one possible cause of flooding of several residents? homes over the past few years. The flooding intensified, prompting village officials to engage the county drain officials to investigate the issues. As a result, last year petitions were signed and in a special meeting on April 9, 2013 at the village offices, a board of determination voted 3-0 to move forward with an upgrade to the Wheelock & Watkins Drain. By law the drain commission must move forward with the project in a timely manner. After a final project cost is determined, the drain commission will then decide how payment for the funding is to be divided.
‘We realize that many factors, including new council members and Jakki Sidge, village manager, on sick leave has slowed the progress,? said Gerth. ‘But, the village petitioned to address the drain issues in the community. We now have to determine the best alternatives and where upgrades or repairs produce the drain benefits. We are willing to take a look and if they can cut water off and make a clear reduction the project will be smaller.?
The February meeting at the drain commission office in Flint included representatives from the Village of Goodrich, council members Richard Saroli and Mark Baldwin, along with village resident Norm Bass. Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright, along with Jim Gerth and Sue Kubic, were also present. The intent of the meeting was to follow up an engineering report by Fleis and Vandenbrink that provided some preliminary engineering information on upgrades to the Wheelock & Watkins drain project. The cost of the upgrades, some exceeding $600,000, were questioned by village officials.
‘From our point of view, even if we cut off and divert water from the golf course, there still needs to be improvements to the Wheelock & Watkins Drain,? he said. ‘The drain is old, it needs to be up to current design standards. We are looking for any savings on the drain project. But we can only assess (funds) for drain benefit. We have to demonstrate effective use of tax dollars. There are other issues with the alternative that will need to be discussed.?
Gerth said the GCDC has granted a short extension on the village project and will set up a meeting with Parjana’a company that provides solutions to managing surface and underground water in an eco-friendly and sustainable way. The company made a presentation at the Nov.10 village council meeting.
According to company officials, one option is the use of an Energy-Passive Groundwater Recharge Product (EGRP), a five chamber tubular extrusion in the ground distribute water into the soil. The long term change will impact soil saturations. The product was designed to reduce surface runoff by increasing infiltration in much the same way as a natural environment.
Costs for the project were not provided.
Mark Baldwin, who was recently elected council president, said the council is moving forward on the drain project.
‘County represenatives attended the meeting on Monday (Nov. 10) and they seemed very receptive to working with us,? he said. ‘We are obligated to move forward now and due to the pending lawsuit the county understands the process had stopped. Now there is a time to talk about our alternatives.?
Baldwin said some of the water flow could be directed away from the golf course by using a catch basin near the intersection of Seneca Street and Hegel Road.
‘The basin is not big enough, but if we can reduce the flow of water there and utilize plastic piping it would mean a reduction in cost,? he added. ‘The green infrastructure will help out the environment by letting the ground purify the water.?