Municipal News

Last Updated on Friday, 28 October 2016 23:40

By Miranda Startare

A frustrated New Eagle resident addressed New Eagle Council at the October 4 monthly borough meeting about his persistent issues of flooding at his home on Broadway Street.

William Bautz, of 419 Broadway Street, says his basement has been flooding for 16 years due to water runoff from the street. According to Mr. Bautz, the flooding began after the borough replaced the sewage system, and his home’s basement floods with approximately five feet of water twice a year. The damages to his home have totaled $20,000 over the 16-year time frame, according to Mr. Bautz.

The location, which happens to be one of the lowest elevations in New Eagle, according to Council, has prevented the placement of the drain that could help alleviate the flooding due to the existence of a government owned fiber optic line near the railroad.

Railroad representatives refute the claim that Council has been unable to dig in the area to place a drain, according to Mr. Bautz, who says the railroad representatives told him they have marked the area of the fiber optics repeatedly to allow borough workers to install a drain, and the Council has not completed the work.

The railroad has said the borough is being negligent, according to Mr. Bautz.

Council President Jack Fine responded that the railroad company is lying and asked Mr. Bautz to provide pictures of the flooding to determine if anything can be done by the borough to re-direct rainwater from Broadway Street.

In other business:
• Parnell Monuments, of Monongahela, has generously donated a marble marker, worth $588, for the borough’s time capsule that was buried in September at the New Eagle Veterans Memorial.
• Paul Pro was re-appointed to the Sewage Authority Board.
• Re-development funds will increase from $33,000 to $50,000 beginning next year. The funds will be received by the borough every four years.
• Council noted a leak in the Municipal Building roof that is possibly coming from an area with no flashing material. Necessary repairs will be completed.