A long-standing storm water drainage problem for a local resident may draw support from both city and county officials.
“Ken Beckwith has contacted us about the drainage problem on his property,” said Warren County Executive John Pelham. “This has been a long-standing problem.”
The area is on the low-lying section of Spring Street beside First Baptist Church and behind the Warren County Administrative Building. Pelham says storm water runs from the upper portion of county property to the lower section, with some of the water ending up on Beckwith’s property before it can be absorbed into the ground.
“If we allow it, he says the city would be willing to work on the area to help with drainage,” Pelham said.
McMinnville Public Works assistant director Brad Hennessee met with the city’s engineer to consider a solution.
“I met on site with engineer Anthony Pelham to brainstorm about the problem and try to find a solution,” Hennessee said. “That area is the lowest point and that’s where water pools, if not absorbed into the ground. We think ditch work can help and get the water to where it needs to go.”
A ditch will be dug to drain some of the water pooling on the property toward an injection well located in that area, says Hennessee.
“We can get it there and into the ground. It’s the opposite of a well driller’s hole. A well-driller’s hole is dug to pump water out. What we are doing is the opposite. It was placed there to drain water from the area. If we can dig a ditch, maybe we can get the storm water to it.”
There could be a problem with the solution.
“I’m not sure if it is county or church property, but I think it’s church property,” said Hennessee. “We may have to have a survey done to determine where the injection well is located. If it is on church property, we would have to have their permission to dig a ditch to it.”
Rainwater on private property is usually the problem of the property owner. Hennessee says the city will make an exception given the simple solution.
“Normally, storm water on your property is your responsibility while it is on your property,” he said. “However, we have a chance to help a resident out without detriment to anyone.”
Hennessee is waiting on word from the county in regard to the plan and to find out if the injection well is on county property.