CRESTVIEW — Relief is coming for Crestview residents Charles and Vicky Strausbaugh. The couple's Sioux Circle property has been on the receiving end of a leaking nearby retention pond.
Noting, "We've got a problem that needs to be fixed," City Councilman Shannon Hayes moved to approve funding to remedy the leak. His motion was unanimously approved.
Public Works Director Wayne Steele explained the pond at the Liberty Oaks subdivision is "not perking down, it's perking out the side."
Because the pond is 13 feet higher than the Strausbaugh's property, as it saturates the ground water, the water seeps to the family's home on its way to a small nearby creek.
Water seeped into the family's garage and basement as well as their property and neighboring properties, Steele said.
"It was a lot of water," Steele said.
Steele presented two ways to mediate the problem to the City Council at its Monday night meeting.
The first solution, a "chimney drain," would require drilling a deep drain through the bottom of the pond and through the dense confining layer of soil that was preventing proper percolation.
Much cheaper than an $800,000 chimney dam, however, was an 8-foot-deep drain along the Strausbaugh's property line at a cost of about $26,000, Steele said. The council approved creating the 8-foot drain.
Funding would come from a stormwater mitigation fund already approved for another drainage project. Steele said the Strausbaugh's have been very cooperative with the city during the ordeal.
"The homeowner was very gracious," Steele said. "He has not filed for any liabilities against the city for this."
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Relief in sight for Crestview family's drainage woes