Leibfried_Citizen Request re: retention basin_ _ __ _ _ __
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;,.
Jeanne Schneider -addressing the Council ~~~ :/^
From: "betty leibfried"
To:
Date: 05/30/2007 10:16 AM
Subject: addressing the Council
To the City Clerk,
We are requesting an opportunity to address the City Council at their next meeting on Monday, June 4th
regarding the storm retention basin behind our homes on Barbaralee Drive. We have complained to the City
Engineers's office the last three years that the grass is not cut regularly -it's not been cut this year-. The main
problem is that there is a twenty foot low spot in the middle where water was sitting year round causing six foot
weeds and thistles and mosquitos. Last Fall an attempt was made to direct some of the water toward the drain.
It's partly successful but extremely unsightly. We feel there has to be a better solution. We take pride in our
homes and our careful landscaping. The City Assessor agrees with us and has reduced our tax assessments
based on this problem. I would appreciate a note back confirming that you have recieved this request and
confirming that we are indeed on the agenda.
Thank you,
Betty Leibfried
888 Barbaralee
557-1196
Veronica Bender
895 Barbaralee
588-2743
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file://C:\Documents and Settings\jschneid\Local Settings\Temp\XI'grpwise\465D4F07DB... 05/30/2007
Good Evening. My name is Betty Leibfried.
I would like to bring to the Council's attention the condition of the storm retention basin
behind our home on Bazbazalee Drive and Fremont Avenue. We have lived there for five years
and I think the basin has been there a year or two longer. The first year someone came
regularly and mowed the grass and the water drained out. Over the years the ground in the
basin has settled forming a lazge low spot in the center, approximately 20 to 30 feet across.
Because of constantly running water from the culvert in the North corner, which I suspect is
coming from an underground spring, there was standing water in the basin year round. This led
to tall reeds and other weeds and mosquitoes and of course no one could mow the grass. For
the last three yeazs I and my neighbor have been in contact with the City Engineers Office
trying to resolve this issue and at least keep the surrounding area mowed. Last Spring we were
told that the problem would be taken care of. After waiting all Summer, a contractor came in
the Fall and placed the two large concrete half pipes that you see in the pictures from the two
culverts in the corners of the basin to the large drain. This helped the problem of the spring
water which runs constantly from the corner because that water no longer runs to the middle. It
still backs up and stands in the area of the drain where there is a new low area. When there is a
large rain the water overflows the pipes and still backs up into the low area in the middle but
eventually will dry.
But what an unsightly partial solution! ! Each pipe is about 70 feet long and they criss-cross the
basin making it difficult to get in there to mow. The weeds continue to grow. There is very
little grass and what a job to try to get in there and make it look presentable. It seems like all
the litter from the hill gets caught there. We look directly down into the basin from our living
room, kitchen and deck. People who come to our home all ask, "What's going on back here?"
Additionally, the ground is eroding badly around the culverts, undermining especially the
culvert on the South side of the basin. This has been an ongoing problem that we have
mentioned repeatedly to someone in the engineers office.
I don't know what the solution is, but there must be an engineer somewhere that can come up
with a better plan than these unsightly pipes. How about burying the pipe (a whole pipe) so
that it can be mowed over, or putting in a drain below the North culvert, such as many people
have to put in their yards to carry the spring water? Or, simplest of all, re-contour the basin so
that all the water runs to the drain!
At the time I'm writing this, May 30, no one has been here to cut the grass and the thistles in
the basin. My husband and other neighbors mow the grass along Fremont and the sidewalks
because we are embarrassed to let it go.
We live in a beautiful neighborhood where people take pride in their homes and their yards. It
is a real source of frustration to look out at this mess everyday. In fact, at a recent Board of
Review meeting the City Assessor agreed with us and lowered the tax assessments of the three
homes on Bazbazalee bordering the storm basin because of this eye-sore. Please help us bring
this to the attention of the Powers That Be. Our voices seem to get lost in the wind.
Pictures
1. Spring water running from the North culvert to the drain.
2. Low spot where spring water sits.
3. Tall grass that grows in the center low area.
4. Thistles and other weeds.
5. North culvert
6. South culvert
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