A problem with street flooding on East Main is going to cost the city over $300,000.
At a special city council meeting Wednesday, approval was given to purchase the materials to reroute the storm drain away from its existing line running under property owned by McDonald’s and Taco Bell.
The existing line has already collapsed damaging the drive through pavement for both fast food operations.
According to mayor Jennifer Mulholland, there are no records or plans covering the storm drain.
“ODOT said they believe the person trying to develop the property for Walmart when East Main was receiving work put in the drain,” she said. “That didn’t have anything to do with the city. No easements have ever been given.”
Plans call for the city to re-route the storm drain from the current catch basin east on Main to Southeast Third Street then south to Coal Creek. That would have a 14-inch line running some 700 feet.
“We can’t allow everything to fall in down there,” she said. The total cost of the project is expected to run about $350,000. It is not covered in the current budget meaning the city is scrambling to pull revenue from other departments.