Oct 11, 2006 By Rebekah Sungala 3 min read

MASONTOWN – After seeing pictures that showed a field flooded with 18 inches of water, borough council said Tuesday it will make every attempt to correct an ongoing problem with the storm drain system. Tom and Joy Shiflett of 202 Commercial Ave. told council the field in front of their residence floods often, especially when there is significant rainfall.

“It’s not just a little flooding; it’s a lot of flooding,” Tom Shiflett said. “The land is so saturated that water comes up through the cracks in my floorboard.”

According to the Shifletts, the property flooded badly twice within the last three months – once in July and once last week when a severe storm came through the area.

The Shifletts said water backs up and comes out of the storm drains, causing the extreme flooding.

Councilman Joe Volansky said council has been aware of the problem and has done nothing to resolve the issue.

“Nothing got done,” he said. “We didn’t follow through.”

Volansky said council had the storm drains cleaned between River and Cottage avenues but didn’t have the rest of the drains cleaned, saying the storm drains near the Shifletts’ residence need to be cleaned.

In addition, Volansky said roadside ditches also need to be maintained better, in order to control the storm water.

He said there used to be 5-foot ditches to move the water away from residences but that the ditches are now overgrown and almost yard level.

“The yards are lower than the ditches,” he said.

Borough engineer Russ Mechling said the Route 21 construction project should keep a lot of storm water away from the borough, but could not give an estimated completion date for the project.

However, once the project is completed, Mechling said it should solve some of the Shifletts’ flooding problem.

Nonetheless, council President Harry Lee said something has to be done now to alleviate the problem.

Mechling agreed to look into the matter and see what solutions are possible.

As for other matters, council is still waiting to find out if it will receive a NPDES permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that will allow them to release backwash water into the river.

According to Mechling, the permit was sent in for DEP approval about six months ago.

The borough has released backwash water into the Monongahela River since the water plant was built in 1925, Mechling said.

Mechling said the DEP would rather see the backwash water be treated at the sewage plant before being released into the river, but said the treatment plant does not have the capabilities to treat the excess water.

Council may need to consider building a holding tank that will allow the backwash water to be treated in the future, Mechling said. “It isn’t a hazardous situation, but it is something that needs to be taken care of,” he said.

Council also conducted the following business:

– Said it applied for a $30,000 Department of Community and Economic Development grant. If awarded the grant, the money will be used to pay to have the water tank painted.

– Announced the budget committee will begin working on the 2007 proposed budget.

– Entered into executive session for personnel and legal matters.