(ANGOLA) - The Angola Board of Public Works and Safety approved a stormwater grant Monday to help address a drainage problem at a home on Manahan Drive.
The property owner told board members water has accumulated in her backyard since she purchased the home in December 2024. She said heavy rainfall and runoff from higher ground behind the property have created standing water that has limited use of the yard and raised concerns about damage to a recently installed concrete pad.
City staff recommended approval of the application through the city's stormwater grant program, which provides matching funds for qualifying drainage projects.
During discussion, board members questioned whether similar drainage issues affect other nearby properties. City officials said several homes along Manahan Drive experience water problems because runoff from the higher-elevation Broad Street area drains toward the neighborhood and there is limited stormwater infrastructure in the area.
One resident told the board he has dealt with drainage issues on his property since the 1990s and installed his own drainage system and sump pumps to manage water runoff.
Officials said the proposed project would not eliminate all drainage problems but could help water leave the area more quickly after rain events. Staff recommended the lower of two submitted project estimates, a proposal from JL Brown Excavating totaling $6,850.
The board approved the grant, which will cover 50 percent of the approved project cost. Officials asked the homeowner to provide an update in about six months on whether the improvements are helping alleviate the drainage issue.
The board had no departmental reports or additional business. The next meeting is scheduled for July 6.