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Susan Downey began calling the Oakland County Road Commission back in the Fall of 2008, when the ditch in her front yard would fill up with water. “The first time I called, they came out and pumped the water out,” said Downey. “I heard what sounded like rocks going up the tube and asked if that was OK. I’m not an expert, but I’m sure a gravel bedding is needed to support the leach basin. Now, three years later, it has sunk about two feet into the ground and the cover is partially covered with muck. Soon it will be completely buried.”
Susan turned to family, friends and neighbors for advice. “My father told me to call the Oakland County Commissioner,” said Downey. “He said he had a water problem in front of his house and his county commissioner resolved the problem within days. Unfortunately, I have not had the same good luck with ours.”
Susan called Jim Runestad, the County Commissioner in White Lake. “He did listen to my concerns but his only answer was to advise me to sue the person who sold me the house without disclosing an environmental problem. That will only hurt him and not resolve the problem which is ultimately what I want done. He also informed me that the developer who built this subdivision should have never been given the permits to build because of the high water table. He said these houses were built on swamp land to be used for low-income housing for people on welfare.”
The leach basin in this area is failing and the neighborhood needs a dewatering system installed which is something that should have been done when it was built. Since someone in authority granted the permits, the government organization (whoever they are) should still be responsible today. The Oakland County Road Commission has the equipment to manually move the water to another location; however, they refuse to spend the time and money on something that will always continue to be a problem. “They say they cannot fix it because we are in a low, wet area,” said Downey. “I happen to know that we do have the technology to move water with a pump and dewatering system, but apparently it’s up to the area homeowners to incur the expense now.”
Susan has created a blog where she continues to update the public about the problem. She is hoping that there is someone out there with “connections” or some advice as to what can be done to resolve the problem. Please visit http://oaklandcountyroadcommission.blogspot.com/ for updates and to make comments or offer advice.
About Susan Downey: Susan Downey is a White Lake homeowner and tax payer. She and her neighbors are concerned with a problem that has plagued them for years. They have contacted the township and the county, OCRC, Oakland County Health Department, and County Commissioner, Jim Runestad about the problem and have been unable to obtain a satisfactory solution.
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