CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte city leaders are hoping a change in the rate structure of storm water fees will help cut down on its more than a decade-long backlog on repairs to failed drain pipes and sinkholes across the city.
Gaping sinkholes in yards, sidewalks and driveways across Charlotte have left thousands of people waiting for the city to fix them, but those residents have been told it will take years.
Channel 9 reporter Jenna Deery obtained a copy of a 25-page wait list, with some needs dating back as far as 1992.
“One of the main drivers we have right now is just a demand for repairs, so we have a lot of calls and there are more calls than we have money or resources to fix,” said Storm Water Assistant Manager Darryl Hammock.
Hammock said the requests to fix drain problems and sinkholes are piling up. So far this year, his office has received 2,251 repair requests, which is higher than last year’s 1,741 calls.
Not every request turns out to be a project that qualifies. The city will repair a hole if it was caused by water coming from a public street on to private property.
Hammock said those calls are putting pressure on a department that hasn't grown with a city now using an aging system that's failing.
Press "PLAY" to hear Hammock explain part of the reason for the long wait list:
“As a city ages and as infrastructure levels increase, the funding levels are going to have to increase to reach those higher demands,” said Hammock.
Last year, Charlotte City Council approved a new storm water fee rate structure, charging higher fees to people living in larger homes. It helps pay for more repair projects.
Councilman Kenny Smith believes to cut down on the backlog, storm water fees will keep going up.
“If you look at our trajectory, you can expect anywhere from a 3-6 percent increase on a yearly basis,” said Smith.
Homeowner Craig Jones said he pays higher fees at his home off of Providence Road, where his driveway was washed out after a drainage pipe failed. He said he was told he would have to wait up to six years for the city to repair it.
Press "PLAY" to hear homeowner Craig Jones' frustration:
“I just can't imagine another industry that says, ‘Yeah, we'll pay for it, you'll just have to walk to your house for the next six years,’” said Jones.
He ended up paying a private contractor to repair his driveway in order to avoid losing his homeowner's insurance, which was a cost he feels he shouldn't have had to incur if he's paying the city for a service.
“All of our taxes and fees are high in Charlotte and you would think you would at least get good service as a result,” said Jones.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
