Reprinted Story from WMDT Channel 47 - Story of Tuesday, September 25, 2012

http://www.wmdt.com/story/19638837/oak-orchard-residents-voice-drainage-concerns-after-severe-floods

Oak Orchard Residents Push For Drainage Enhancements After Storms

OAK ORCHARD, Del. - Oak Orchard residents continue to deal with the aftermath of storms that flooded the area back in August.

"We had about maybe 6 inches deep in our apartment. Our floors, after all the water went down, they had buckled, and yes, mold's a problem," resident Karen Coleman said. "My woman and I are seriously thinking about moving," resident Karl Johnson said.

A boat ramp, right at the lowest point in the community was completely destroyed, and now some residents are pushing to close off the entire area. Mark Dunn has already spent $3,500 on repairs. "As far as this ramp goes, it's been absolutely a nuisance. I'd like to have permission to close this off, back fill it in, put a drain line in here and everyone in the whole neighborhood would be very very pleased and happy," he said.

Dunn says he's willing to pay to out of pocket, but officials tell us it's public property. "Since they're not owners of that, DNREC is hesitant to issue a permit to install bulkheads for an area they do not own," president of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company, Patrick Miller said.

Residents tell WMDT flooding has been an issue for years, and they're hoping officials will recognize something needs to be done, before the next storm hits. Community leaders say they're working to make drainage enhancements, but plans are in the early stages. "We have reviewed some of our historical files and submitted those to DNREC and DelDot. But, they will be a number of months or years before that materializes," Miller said.

Tuesday night, elected officials are expected to tour the area and assess the damage.

Illustrated below is a letter that was submitted to our elected officials on September 10, 2012.

September 10, 2012

The Honorable George H. Bunting, Jr., Senator – Delaware State Senator

The Honorable Joseph W. Booth, Senator – Delaware State Senator

The Honorable John C. Atkins, Representative – Delaware House of Representatives

The Honorable Ruth Briggs-King, Representative – Delaware House of Representatives

The Honorable Gerald Hocker, Representative – Delaware House of Representatives

Jeff Reed, South District Engineer, DELDOT

RE:  ROADWAY DRAINAGE ISSUES – OAK ORCHARD

• RIVER ROAD @ OAK ORCHARD ROAD

Dear Senators Bunting & Booth; Representatives Atkins, Briggs-King, and Hocker; Mr. Reed:

As you are aware, the aforementioned areas of Oak Orchard are continuously plagued with inadequate drainage and from both tidal and rain water run-off conditions and knowing that the season for inclement weather is upon us as well as the most recent rain water run-off issues have further exasperated the drainage concerns.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company hereby submits this communication to solicit any assistance that you could offer to encourage and ensure that the Delaware Department of Transportation and other key state agency entities perform a comprehensive analysis of the drainage issues including but not limited to the installation of enhanced underground culverts in the aforementioned area in order to ameliorate these concerns.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company, the Oak Orchard Community Church, and key property owners in the Bookhammer’s Addition to Oak Orchard could be instrumental in the development of a favorable solution with these efforts to evaluate, redesign and implement enhanced drainage items at this location. 

As substantial property holders in this aforementioned addition to Oak Orchard, we could work to formalize agreements with the property owners of the Bookhammer’s Addition to Oak Orchard to develop a non-profit, non-stock, homeowners association to oversee these public right of way lands, initiate a public hearing and pursue a quit claim deed for the designated areas identified as public right of way lands to these property owners and then pursue “greater public use” designation very similar to the actions pursued via the Oak Orchard Homeowners’ Association, Inc. for the roads known as Russell, Avenue, Basin Road Drive, Cannon Street, Orchard Drive, Paul Street and Fagan Street.

As President of the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company, I would be willing to exert assistance with research time and labor to initiate public forum, discussions and dialogue to have these discussions commence in order to bring resolution for the “greater public good” with these drainage issues at the Oak Orchard Road and River Road intersection.

We believe that the timing is impeccable based upon recent water damage strictly due rain water run-off and that this process could be lengthy.  We are willing to collaborate with DELDOT, DNREC and our elected officials for the overall betterment of the public’s drainage concerns.

I have attached various items for your perusal:

EDITOR'S NOTE:  ATTACHMENTS NOT APART OF WEBISTE INFORMATION)

(1) Oak Orchard Homeowners’ Association Dedication Agreement (similar conceptual arrangement);

 

(2) Indian River VFC’s Corporate Resolution Authorizing representation for this corporate entity to work for the public good regarding Indian River’s interest;

 

(3) Photographs of the Oak Orchard area in question during various elements of inclement weather; and

 

(4) Illustration of property owners in Bookhammer’s Addition to Oak Orchard (tentative information needs verification). 

Please identify who the specific contact persons should be with DELDOT, DNREC, etc. and what you perceive as our next step for commencement of these activities.

If there are any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Respectfully submitted,

Patrick C. Miller, President

Indian River Volunteer Fire Co., Inc.

Editor's Illustration of additional inclement water conditions at the designated location:

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=1143

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=1146

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=892

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=827

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=826

http://www.irvfc.com/gallery.cfm?id=825