Flooding and drainage problems related to development in the area of Snow Hill Street and N.C. 11 are continuing to stir trouble for the Ayden Board of Commissioners.
Josh Richardson, whose family farm is routinely flooded since the development of nearby Legacy Park Apartments, presented the board with a letter from Southeast Drainage that outlined multiple problems with drainage infrastructure in the area. Southeast Drainage is a Grifton-based nonprofit that helps drainage districts and property owners assess flooding problems.
“This is a summary and assessment of the flooding conditions on the southwest side of town and states the majority of the cause, which includes a stream that was rerouted, structures that were built in the riparian buffer, and water that is now backing up because it can’t get out,” said Richardson, who also presented other documents including photos from recent flooding during the public comment period of the commissioners meeting on Jan. 8.
The letter said a pump station in the area is mostly submerged during normal rain events and electrical lines on Richardson’s farmland, referred to as parcel 00138, are inundated and could not be accessed in an emergency.
“As you can see from these pictures parcel 00138 is completely inundated, the electric lines that run across that parcel couldn’t be accessed if they had to be, the poles are leaning about to fall over, they haven’t been maintained probably since 1985, and it also shows water coming across the road at Snow Hill Street, where the lift station is,” said Richardson, whose family also owns several homes adjacent to the farmland on Bowen Circle.
Richardson wanted to know if there was an update on an assessment by the town regarding the drainage in the area. He said landowners in the area had not been briefed since a stakeholders meeting when they were briefed by officials on efforts to address the problems.
As Richardson began to make his request for the assessment and an update on long-term plans, Mayor Ivory Mewborn interrupted him because Richardson had gone over the time allotted to speakers during the public comment period.
“Mr. Richardson, with all due respect, Mr. Manager and his staff will get with you on that how he sees fit to bring you up to date,” said Mewborn. “I want you to know that I know that it is important that you are followed up.”
Richardson tried to continue with one more issue, but Mewborn said that his time was up. Patti Richardson then attempted to speak but she had not signed up in advance.
“So, I can’t sign up now,” said Richardson, who has complained that damage from development approved by the town has caused significant damage to her property. “Y’all are so full of crap. Just so you know, the last total was $366,000 that y’all have cost me, and you’ve done nothing to try to help the situation.”
After the Richardsons stormed out, Mewborn addressed public comment period rules.
“I would like to state this: I don’t think I’m out of line to state that we do have rules and regulations that we must go by. I believe in being fair to the public, that’s where I stand, I’ll continue to stand that way, my thing is to make sure that those issues that are mentioned are addressed, and they will be addressed.”
The board on Jan. 8 also heard a request for a special-use permit by Eagle Rock, a concrete maker at the center of an earlier zoning request opposed by the Richardsons and property owners adjacent to the new Ayden Rail Park industrial site.
Zoning that allowed construction of the plan was approved over concerns about noise, pollution, aesthetics and drainage. The board on Jan. 8 granted Eagle Rock permission to increase the height of its facility.
In other business the board:
Heard an update for Founders Day events from Doris Conner of Downtown Ayden Inc. The town is celebrating its 133rd anniversary on Feb. 2-3.Approved appointments of Meredith Amador and David Webb to the Ayden Library boardApproved hiring a temporary part-time customer service positionApproved an amendment the project budget ordinance for water system improvements.Appointed Reginald Cannon to the Ayden Arts and Recreation Commission. Mayor Protem Raymond Langley voted against the appointment.Presented a resolution recognizing the work of outgoing Mayor Steve Tripp.Presented a resolution recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month.Presented a resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Ayden Rotary Club.
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