The need to lower the grade of a gravel alley behind a Montrose property caused one resident to voice her concerns publicly.
During the regular village council meeting on Monday night Debi Sedgwick asked for the gravel alley behind her yard to be leveled-off after the village raised it in 2010. According to Sedgwick the changes created a series of water runoff problems.
In the summer of 2010, Sedgwick said a village dump truck filled the alley behind her property with gravel, which raised the alley’s level by roughly four inches to stop the roadway from sloping into her yard.
Even so, in 2011 the village had to send work crews out twice to attend to water run-off on the property through the carport behind her home.
“I don’t want to make mountains out of molehills, but this problem has been going on for two years,” Sedgwick pleaded, while explaining that the runoff could eventually harm the foundation of her home.
“Just scrape (the gravel) back down to where it was, that’s all we’re asking.”
Previously the village supplied Sedgwick sandbags, but she said it wasn’t practical if she was out of town. In addition, the village suggested a topsoil berm and a ditch in front of her home, but Sedgwick refused each option.
Chief administrative officer Kevin Chartres and Counc. Mary Gay have been to the property several times looking for a solution, but haven’t had much success negotiating a viable option with Sedgwick.
“I think what she’s requesting will only result in further problems,” Chartres explained to council on Monday night. “We re-graded the alley to hold more water to allow for dissipation two years ago and offered to build her a topsoil berm to direct the water away from her house (last spring); she told us not to go anywhere near her property.”
People in Montrose are used to having their lawn grow out flat to the edge of the road which results in many issues, however it is easier for the homeowner to maintain, Chartres added.
The issue was unresolved when the council meeting was adjourned, but the village agreed to continue searching for an option that would satisfy both parties.