Description
Non-stop flooding caused by the City of Meriden, when will you help us!!! For ten years I have been on a crusade to get the City of Meriden to stop flooding my home and the Golden, Frary and Morse Street intersection. You have allowed dozens of condos to be built, and even the Thomas Edison Magnet School to dump all of their rainwater down to an antiquated retention pond. This retention pond has only one egress, a culvert pipe that cannot handle the new demands you throw at it. Meriden has even hired an outside consulting firm to evaluate the problem, and this taxpayer funded study concluded with a complete agreement with my assessment. Reoccurring flooding to the order of Five (5) feet of water in my backyard has caused much damage. Lawsuits, letters, emails, meetings, pictures and even videos have not coerced Meriden to take notice. My neighbor had a heart attack while fighting the floods and had to be taken out by a boat, how much more will you ignore us?
16 Comments
George Moore (Guest)
Hi Michael, could you call me? (203) 317-2275.
-George , Record-Journal
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
City of Meriden, CT Truck once again closing our road!
Anonymous
What did the previous study recommend? Can a retention project be done with federal stimulus funds? Does USDA NRCS concur with recommendations? Has Meriden DPW requested NRCS look at this flooding problem? Mary Mushinsky, QRWA
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Milone and MacBroom did the study and it stated that the present detention ponds and the egress pipe needed expansion to accommodate the increased run-off from development. There was also a recommendation to raise Hill Street. This is our only means of escape during flooding.
I am not sure about stimulus money, or if it is actually needed. I can tell you that there is already a detention pond and a small portion of it was cleared and dredged by the City of Meriden’s Water and Sewer Department. They have the machines and knowledge to correct the problem by excavating the larger section of the detention pond. This detention area was obtained by the City of Meriden through eminent domain in approximately 1980. It has not seen any water in 30 years! The largest section of the detention pond remains elevated higher than surrounding properties.
I have not seen any correspondence with the USDA NRCS so I am going to assume the answer is no. This is the first I knew about the NRCS and their ability to help the public, something I am definitely going to look into. I would ask the DPW to inquire with the NRCS but cooperation from the City has definitely been lacking.
Thanks Mary for your input.
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Update- 3-12-10 City officials arrive to see the problem, City Manager Mr. Kendzoir says they will look into the problem and report findings.
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Flooded again, photo shows the water that is held back by the Thomas Edison detention pond. Another photo shows the water coming from the Thomas Edison area into our area causing floods.
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
The detention pond at Thomas Edison school.
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Update:
4-28-2010 - Call to City Manager Kendzior for update on flooding, Kendzior says he has been busy, will contact City Engineer Mr. Bass for info and get back to me.
6-7-2010 – Call to City Manager Kendzior for update on flooding, Kendzior says he has not discussed problem with City Engineer Mr. Bass but will get with him and reply to me.
Each Month (4 so far) “See Click Fix It” asks me if the problem has been resolved. No.
Mary Mushinsky (Guest)
Mike,
Recommend you ask a Meriden elected or appointed official to formally ask USDA NRCS (office is in Wallingford) to evaluate the detention pond and determine how much to enlarge it, and if detention pond elevation needs to be changed to protect you. If the city already owns the detention pond site, you're halfway home. NRCS services are free to city officials. Milone & McBroom are more likely to charge, but they might answer a municipality's question about their report in regard to what additional detention pond work they recommend. Mary Mushinsky, QRWA
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Yes, the City does own the detention pond. The only problem I have is finding an appointed or elected official in the city of Meriden that will help me by going to the NRCS. This seems to be a Taboo problem. Any suggestions? Thanks, Mike Pyskaty
Mary Mushinsky (Guest)
Yes. City officials are very busy. I find that it helps if you draft the letter first, then get a city official to sign it. NRCS services are free. Mary Mushinsky
USDA NRCS office is in Wallingford.
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Well it has been 6 months since this flooding issue was reported and the City of Meriden has been clearing the detention pond of trees, brush and various construction debris for 2 weeks. It now looks like a typical detention pond, an open area for water. But according to todays Record-Journal interview with Bob Bass, the City has no plans to lower the basin and he refuses to comment about the flooding issue.
Amigo
just wondering how the flooding issue has gone. Have they solved the problem or is it still happening?
Michael Pyskaty
January 24, 2012 Almost 2 years on “See Click Fix It”. Yes we are still flooding; all of my attempts to get the city to do something have been ignored. Even petitions signed by 54 property owners in this area demanding the city to fix our problem have been ignored. My neighbor left their home and let it go into foreclosure because they couldn’t take the flooding any more.
Michael Pyskaty (Guest)
Yes we are still flooding, all of my attemps to get the city to do something are useless. Even a petition signed by 54 property owners in ths area to demand the city does something gets ignored. My neighbor packed up and left their home to be taken by foreclosure. They couldn't take the flooding any more.