The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Resident complains of flooding problems
By Dave Wak, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: August 28, 2008
During their Aug. 19 meeting, the Ypsilanti Township Board of Trustees debated an issue that affects a number of residents in the southern part of the township, a low water table and flooding problems.
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The issue came up when the board voted three to three and denied resident Craig Pomroski 50 percent of the $6,900 he was asking for to install a special drain system to remove water from his flooded basement.
Pomerski said the flooding occurred because his house, located at the Tremont Park subdivision near Textile Road, was built on a low water table area in the south end of the township.
Pomerski said older township building standards allowed the house to be built in the area when they shouldn't have. He also said the builder lied to him when he bought the house, saying it only flooded during spring thaws.
As a result Pomerski said his basement frequently flooded and his sump pump was constantly running. He also said he now needs two pumps because the last one burned out from constant use.
"The sump pump hasn't stopped running for the six years I've lived here," Pomerski said.
Some board members sympathized with Pomerski's plight including his neighbor Township Clerk Brenda Stumbo. She suggested that the board pay half of the $6,900 Pomerski requested to see if the pipe system he wanted installed would work for other residents with flooding problems.
However, Township Attorney Doug Winters said that might not be wise because it could create a precedent where other township residents also came forward wanting the township to pay for pipe systems.
Township Supervisor Ruth Ann Jamnick said the township had to cautious about giving Pomerski any money.
"This creates the possibility that others may come forth," Jamnick said.
Trustee Stan Eldridge said he also had problems with flooding and had gone through some sump pumps himself. But he estimated if a third of the residents in the low water area asked the township to pay for new pipes it might cost the township around $500,000.
Building Department Director Ron Shelton said he frequently spoke with Pomerski about his flooding problem but insisted that his house was built according to code. Shelton added that the state allowed building in wet areas.
"I do feel for Mr. Pomerski as I've said in the past," Shelton said.
Pomerski said he had researched building-related documents and found that the developer's engineer had commented about the low water table in 1997. He also said the county may have updated its building standards for low water table areas since then based on the flooding problems in his neighborhood.
Building Department officials said they had found similar documents but said the documents also proved house was still up to code.
The board decided to vote on whether to pay for half of Pomerski's expenses, but only if he agreed not to ask for more money if the new pipe system didn't work.
The motion failed in a 3-3 tie with Stumbo, Jamnick and Trustee Jean Hall Currie voting to award the money, and Treasurer Larry Doe and Trustees Dee Sizemore and Eldridge voting against it.
Trustee David Ostrowski was not at the meeting due to a family emergency.
Dave Wak is an Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. He can be reached at dwak4@hotmail.com.
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