City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

 

Meeting Date: June 7, 2005

 

Item No.:

             24

Recommendation:  That the Common Council pass a motion to create the project “Storm Sewer in St. John’s Estates Subdivision” and transfer $115,000 from non-specified storm water to fund its construction, and further direct that funds recovered from the developer reimburse the non-specified storm water account.

 

Background:  During the severe rains in the spring of 2004, only one structure flooded (that we are aware of) in the City of Oak Creek, that being the rectory at St. John’s Church on the corner of S. 27th St. and W. Oakwood Rd.  This is a continuation of a long term flooding problem in the area between the church and St. John’s Subdivision.

 

The problem started with erroneous topographic mapping during the design of the subdivision.  These maps led to an understatement of the flood flows.  The heavy reliance on drain tile (pre-existing the development) to drain the subject area reinforced the design since water was not observed sitting in the area.  The problem did not surface until major rains occurred.  The City has worked with the developer to resolve the problem.

 

·         Worked with local residents to locate existing drain tile which may have been severed during the construction.

·         Added an additional drain tile to drain the low area.

·         Excavated to find old drain tile, combined inactive with active, and set inlets over the active tile.

·         Searched again for the “large” tile, we were unable to locate.

 

It is unknown whether or not storm flow comes from outside the drainage area in the City of Franklin since there are no records covering drain tile.  The problem will be improved once the City of Franklin develops and retains water from the southwest corner of Oakwood Road and 27Th Street.  However, the problem currently exists and is recommended to be reduced by the installation of a storm sewer.  The largest storm sewer that can be installed, given the constraints, will protect to approximately the 50-year storm.  When Franklin develops, the level of protection will be approximately a 100-year storm.  The project would consist of approximately 1000 feet of 24” storm sewer.

 

The development has not been closed and there has been ongoing discussion between the attorney for the developer and the City Attorney.  It is clear that the developer is reluctant to spend any additional funds.  Our position is the developer is responsible for this installation, but some legal action may be required to collect or reach an agreement.

 

Fiscal Impact: The allocation of $115,000 from the nonspecified storm water account will reduce the balance to approximately $1,650,000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepared by:

 

 

 

Philip J. Beiermeister, P.E.

Environmental Design Engineer

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

Barbara S. Blumenfield, Ph.D.

City Administrator

 

Approved by:

 

 

 

Wayne St. John, P.E.

City Engineer

 

 

 

Fiscal review by:

 

 

 

Beverly A. Buretta, CMC

City Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T:\Shared\WPFILES\CCREPORT\2005\St John's Storm Sewer Project.doc