County greets drainage questions with silence

Editor:

Ty Hendrix (letter, Sarcastic "thanks for departments lack of help, May 25) is apparently experiencing what other Columbia County citizens have experienced when trying to get a response from their elected officials - silence. It would also appear that Columbia Countys Engineering Department is either making up new Georgia law or they are above it.

The following quotes come from a document defining the legal aspect of Stormwater Utilities that was created by a legal firm in Griffin, Ga.: Any time surface water is diverted from its natural drainage onto property of another, such conduct may constitute both a nuisance and trespass under Georgia law.

The document goes on to define the duty of local government by stating, Not only must it design and construct its own storm drainage system so as not to divert water onto private property in such quantities as cause damage, it must be certain when accepting dedication of drainage facilities built by private developers that the system was properly designed and constructed....

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In Hendrixs case, the water was allowed to run off directly onto his property with no allowance for the effects of storm water. The upper estate property was graded with out swales and no allowance was made for run off when the house was built. The owner of that property is as much a victim as Hendrix is. Where were the county inspectors? Who reviewed the plat?

I have written quite a few e-mails to the new commissioners asking them to ask questions about the so-called Stormwater Utility. So far I have received nothing but silence. They either dont want to know the truth or they cant handle the truth.

Bob Cipperly

Evans