Editorial

Storm-sewer system lacking

Early in July the Southeast Missourian carried an article concerning some residents of Cape Girardeau who were having problems with the storm-sewer system in their neighborhood. The article reported they had problems with flash flooding because the drainage system was not always adequate to carry away rain water.

The newspaper further reported city manager Scott Meyer said there is a "legal side" to storm water management that is "not customer friendly." And it also said that he told the city council, "If you attempt to solve the problem, then you own it." Deputy city manager Molly Hood is reported to have said storm-sewer-system difficulties are the responsibility of the property owners.

I am 69 years old and have lived in six different towns in my life. Cape Girardeau has the worst storm-sewer system of any city in which I have resided. According to Ms. Hood, much of Cape Girardeau was built without storm-sewer control requirements. This leads to situations such as the one my wife and I experienced when we purchased our home in Cape. We were not informed by the real estate agent that due to a lack of storm controls the finished basement would regularly flood.

I solved the worst of the problem by digging 450 feet of drainage ditches. However, if similar situations are not addressed by the city, they will eventually lead to severely damaged houses and neighborhoods with declining property values. Is this what Cape wants?

JOHN PIEPHO, Cape Girardeau

Comments