(Article and photos by Julie Carasone)
Residents of Redfield Parkway and Bogue avenue came out to voice their concerns about a letter they received last week regarding their sump pump connection to the City sanitary sewer at the City Council Conference meeting on Monday night.
In the letter, it states that significant rain events or snow melt off have overwhelmed the sanitary pump station at Redfield Parkway and West Main street. The letter goes on to say that this results in the pump station flooding and the sanitary system backing up, causing issues in the resident’s basements. The letter says the primary cause of this is the homeowner’s sump pumps being connected to the sanitary system. The letter then advises residents that “this is in fact a violation of several different code ordinances, BMC 147-34.
According to Bob Bialkowski, Councilmember At Large, residents began calling him in regards to the language of the letter last week. They felt threatened and strong-armed.
As each resident spoke, many came to the same consensus that there cannot be any more water disposed of into their yards and there is a need for bigger pump stations.
Jim and Kathy Owen have already complied with the ordinance and codes after replacing a waterline and installing a bubbler system at the end of the line several years ago, but were there to support their neighbors and express concerns about flooding during storm events and the dangers of foundation damage due to storm drain runoff into yards.
Keith Bergman, of Redfield Parkway, says he can see the Batavia Down’s track from his upstairs bedroom window. Since they have added on a new building and put pavement where grass was, his yard gets flooded and his neighbor’s yard is even worse because of the run off.
Don Fryling, a 40-year resident of Redfield Parkway, says, “There has been no change to the homes in 40 years. Expansions have been allowed to add to the system, a PTSD clinic, Nursing Home, 86-room hotel, Dunkin Donuts and even Tops. Upgrade the system instead of pushing it on the residents, especially since the cost to remediate is cost prohibitive since I am on a fixed income”.
Matt Worth, Interim City Manager, says the initiative began about a year ago with Bank street residents.
“They were sent the exact same letter, and they met with Jim Ficarella of the Department of Public Works, and made reasonable solutions, since then they haven’t had any issues.”
What we are trying to do, according to Worth, is not overwhelm the pumps.
“When they flood out, they experience pump failure and dirty water flows to the lowest basement. We are just trying to protect the residents from this happening to them,” says Worth.
According to Worth there are no hard deadlines, they are information gathering and giving people alternative solutions to improve the overall system. The next area the City will be looking into is Vine street and East avenue.
When asked about upgrading the system or grants to upgrade the system, Worth says “Enlarging the sanitary pumps is not a solution to the problem. It is clear water that is not supposed to go to the sanitary sewer systems and Federal and State funding says that there will be no funding because of sewer code.” There are also no grants to fix or upgrade the 12 lift stations in Batavia.
Jim Ficarella, Department of Public Works says he was shocked by the reaction of the residents. “The same letter was sent to Bank street residents and they complied.”
Ficarella says that residents can set up an appointment with him and they can see if their system is one that needs changing.
“Since the residents are grandfathered in, they technically don’t have to change anything, but they should make all reasonable efforts to do so. The City doesn’t have anything to help offset the costs, says Ficarella.”
So far 15 residents contacted Ficarella, and only 4 have an issue and will make efforts to change their system.
At the end of the meeting Council President Eugene Jankowski, advised residents to meet with Jim. “See what you can do. If you can’t, you can’t and no one is forcing you to do anything. But try to assist and help the city and it will help your neighbors out as well,” says Jankowski.