Applause erupted from the West U City Council chambers on Monday night, following comments from a resident about a restrictor in the Bellaire Boulevard Bridge that’s causing flooding problems in city streets.
“I can’t imagine how you can study something for 10 years, plan it, put engineers on the project, get it done, pay to do it and then say ‘golly we’re going to stop it up on you,’” said Byron Street resident Dan Doughty.
Six residents addressed council all wanting to know what is being done about the flood restrictor in the bridge that’s causing flooding in down-stream areas of West U. Many other residents were there in support of the speakers, filling almost every seat in the council chambers.
Many of the speakers said that they’ve suffered flood damage to their homes and because of the damage, can no longer get insurance on their homes. The residents who spoke during the council meeting live on Southwestern, Marquette and Byron Streets.
The improvements to the bridge have helped drain the water during storms, but the residents said they want the restrictor to be removed.
“All we want is to have the water carried out like the rest of West U,” Doughty said.
The city is waiting to hear from the Harris County Flood Control District about removing the flood restrictor on the bridge that controls the flow of water leaving West U. It affects down-stream areas like Poor Farm Ditch, a water detention area called the Meyer Tract and Brays Bayou.
The flood control district partnered with West U and all adjacent cities on the Bellaire Boulevard drainage project and agreed to pay for improvements to the bridge with the agreement that the flood restrictors would be installed.
The city has been working to get authorization to remove the flood restrictors on the bridge because the restrictors back-up drainage during storms or heavy rains.
City Manager Michael Ross said this has been a priority for council and staff and they will continue to work on it until the situation is resolved.
“We expect good news,” he said. “We’re not going to let this go on.”
Mayor Bob Kelly said he guarantees that this issue will be on the agenda for Oct. 11. Kelly encouraged residents to come back on Oct. 11 and address council with their comments.
“I think there are very few things that all five of us can agree on so wholeheartedly that your situation needs to be dealt with,” Councilmember George Boehme said.
Ross met with residents after the council meeting to help answer their questions. He said he would keep them updated, via email, about the situation.
Based on what I have read and have experienced, the elected officials and City Manager need to step up and secure a quick and approate soluation. If the City of WUP needs to “poney up” the money now to correct the flooding issue, they should. The Citizens can later spend the needed time to determine who did what and take corrective action. Part of the resulation must be to make sure the needed corrective actions are taken and a process set in place that will prevent this from ever happening again.
The City of WUP is a small part of the Harris Coutny FCD’s responsibility. During the time following the TS many studies were made. Getting the big picture to resolve this issue resulted in many changes and corrections of prior studies. I agree with Mr. Dan Doughty, had the City of WUP’s electided officials done their job a number of years ago when College was rebuilt and installed larger storm sewer, we wouldn’t be talking now. Hine sight is always 20 - 20.
John Palmer