For resident Jack Curry, driving through the streets of North Lawrence after it rains might be comparable to trying to drive his car through a lake.
“ I might be better off in a boat,” Curry said.
The flooding in North Lawrence has been a problem now for over a decade and despite what potential North Lawrence businesses claim, the ongoing flood problem in North Lawrence doesn’t look like it is going to improve any time soon.
Next time the skies open up, if one drives across the bridge over to North Lawrence, they will notice standing water on lawns, streets flooded, and even water seeping into basements. North Lawrence Neighborhood Association President Ted Boyle explains that the problem started in 1994 when low-income homes started popping up in the North Lawrence landscape. With over 140 houses being constructed in the last 13 years, the development led to new streets and sidewalks being built. Anytime a community gains more surfaces, it also means more stormwater as well.
“We never had a problem before all the new development came,” Boyle said.
Besides the flooding, a potential hazard with the standing water in home owner’s lawns is the risk of increased mosquitoes carrying infectious diseases. This leaves some Lawrence residents worried for their families.
“ I won’t let my kids play in the backyard after it rains some times because I don’t want them getting bit by all the bugs,” Curry said.
Matt Bond, director of storm water runoff for Lawrence, realizes the extent of the problem north of the river, but because of the current lack of money in the city government, Bond’s hands are tied. In a North Lawrence storm water drainage study done in 2005, over $41 million was estimated to be needed to create and improve new infrastructures to make storm water runoff more efficient. Such items recommended were an entirely new pump station, plus bigger pipes and tunnels to alleviate some of the excess water. Bond has had to think of new ways to find the money to pay for the improvements.
“We have bonds running through 2009, but I don’t see any debt being taken until then.”
One group that recently stepped forward to help aid the stormwater problem is the developers of the proposed new business park by the Lawrence Municipal Airport. Developer Jes Santualaria, thinks the park, which had its stormwater plan approved by the government, will benefit the residents of North Lawrence.
“ With all the tax revenues that the business park will bring in, that money can go to fix the infrastructure for the rest of North Lawrence,” Santualaria said.
Count Ted Boyle as one resident who isn’t impressed with the Business Industrial Park’s plan. Boyle points out that any tax revenue that is made, probably won’t be seen for at least 20 years. Boyle also knows that the business park will want the city to help pay for their own stormwater infrastructure.
“I think it will help crap,” Boyle said. “ How is the city going to pay for that, if it can’t even give us a $4 million pump?”
As the years have passed, business after business has offered their own solution to solving the storm water problem. Boyle is tired of talk and wants something to be done.
“There hasn’t been a developer in 12 years that has stuck behind their proposals. They arrive, build their business, then leave. It is the residents that have been stuck with the problems,” Boyle said.
There is also the feeling among North Lawrence residents that this problem would never have escalated to this point, had its location been in a more prominent part of Lawrence. North Lawrence still lacks such amenities as a coin laundry center and a grocery store, and Boyle notes that no major growth can really happen until they solve the drainage situation first.
“They did it all backwards, they built new houses and businesses before the infrastructure was ready. They need to fix the drainage situation before they do anything else,” Boyle said.
The city is planning to put in a new left turn lane in front of Johnny’s Tavern in the next year to help make it easier for the stormwater to go directly into the Kansas River. While not the big solutions that resident of North Lawrence hoped for, it should help.
While it only takes 2-4 inches of water to flood the streets of North Lawrence, city government officials fear that a big rainstorm and a flood could severely damage the North Lawrence economy. City planners hope the problem is fixed in time.
“While I think most in the city government are aware of the problem, some forget about it until a big rain storm happens,” Bond said.
For now though, North Lawrence residents can only hope the weather forecast is bright and sunny, even if the immediate future of their storm water problem is not.