Mayor says city may be liable for flood damage claims

  By Robert DeWitt Senior Writer

Published: Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 10:21 p.m. 

 

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TUSCALOOSA | The city's failure to properly maintain part of its drainage system likely led to flooding in the Southern Gardens neighborhood during this summer's heavy rains, Mayor Walt Maddox told the Tuscaloosa City Council on Tuesday.


photos by John L. Wathen

'We believe there is the possibility of claims and that the city may have been liable,' Maddox told council members at a pre-meeting briefing. 'In this particular case, it appears to have built up over time and wasn't a result of flash flooding.'

Maddox said residents pointed out debris in the drainage structure that serves the neighborhood. Buildup of silt may also have played a part, he said.

The City Council approved an emergency public works contract with Ryan Shirley Inc. for $270 an hour for work on the city's drainage system at Southern Gardens.

Robin Edgeworth, an administrator in the Office of the City Attorney, said the city would try to handle claims quickly so that residents can get repairs under way. Edgeworth, Maddox and Chad Christian, the city's storm drainage engineer met with Southern Gardens residents to discuss the problem.

Maddox told council members that he may soon present a request for $80,000 to $100,000 for maintenance work to the area's drainage system. But beyond addressing the immediate problems, Maddox said he wants to see how the city could do a better job with storm drainage maintenance in the long run.

'We're going to have to get more aggressive with drainage in the next four or five years.'

In addition to improving maintenance, the city may need to look into buying some houses in flood-prone areas.

'We may be recommending that you buy out certain homes,' Maddox said. 'There are some homes in the floodway that no amount of engineering can solve.'

City Attorney Bob Ennis said the city can buy out houses only if it serves a public purpose. For example, the city could buy a house that was interfering with normal drainage.

The city used grant money from the Federal Emergency Management agency to buy up houses between 29th and 27th avenues in what it called the 'Armory Drainage Project.' The houses were flood-prone, and the city had no way to fix the problem. FEMA, which provides flood insurance, authorized it because the buyout saves public money in the long run.

Maddox encouraged city employees who see drainage issues in the community to report the problems. He urged citizens who see drainage problems to call the city's 311 number.

Maddox said he also wants to educate the public about the city's drainage system.

'We need to inform our citizens that drainage inlets are not garbage cans,' Maddox said.

Debris and trash thrown into drains can block ditches and pipes and cause flooding.