Print
Comment
Rate
N. Ocotillo Road residents up a creek
when it comes to flood assistance
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Dozens of residents affected by flooding on North Ocotillo Road near Ash Creek may not be getting Cochise County assistance as quickly as they had hoped.
After hosting a meeting with area residents last Tuesday, Karen Riggs of the county floodplain department, said political red tape and disagreements among landowners could halt efforts to find a solution.
Riggs said she would like to find a temporary solution before monsoon season but seemed skeptical.
"We need to look at some things, but we do not have a definite solution or a timeline as I had hoped for," she said. "We will take some time to look at all the options because it is a complicated issue."
The issue is more of a frustration for residents along North Ocotillo. Some landowners can't get home at night, or leave in the morning on rainy days when the road is flooded, and others have their properties completely flooded every time it rains. This winter that has happened several times.
Mark Gibbs said his property looks more like a lake when it rains, since he lives below many of the other property owners in the area.
"The first few years there, we never had any problems," said the 10-year property owner. "But as other property owners came in, we now get rain flow almost to our knees from one end of my property to the other."
With about 20 people attending the special meeting at Benson City Hall, property owners said they have been complaining about the flooding problems since 2005 with no relief.
Several said the county's attempts to rectify the problem have actually made it worse.
Property owners claimed grading has caused some of the issues, forcing rain water down the road as it seeks the river.
Riggs said while some solutions can be discussed, residents need to understand that Ocotillo Road has become a natural channel over time, and with big rains, flooding will occur.
Another problem was created when an unidentified person graded Larry Bingham Lane.
Riggs said whoever graded the privately owned road and connected it to Ocotillo should have sought permission from the county. That didn't happen and that road's being graded has caused more problems, she said.
Riggs said one solution is for landowners to donate a portion of their land to create a right-of-way for the county to come in and start fixing the problems.
While some landowners agree, Riggs said not all are in agreement on the ideas presented.
Riggs said all the county can do now is continue to gather information. As directed by Supervisor Richard Searle, the floodplain department will conduct a traffic count to see how much traffic crosses Ash Creek.
Riggs stressed that the county will do what it can to address the problems by monsoon season, but said it is more likely the flooding issues on Ocotillo Road will be put on next year's road plan.
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Dozens of residents affected by flooding on North Ocotillo Road near Ash Creek may not be getting Cochise County assistance as quickly as they had hoped.
After hosting a meeting with area residents last Tuesday, Karen Riggs of the county floodplain department, said political red tape and disagreements among landowners could halt efforts to find a solution.
Riggs said she would like to find a temporary solution before monsoon season but seemed skeptical.
"We need to look at some things, but we do not have a definite solution or a timeline as I had hoped for," she said. "We will take some time to look at all the options because it is a complicated issue."
The issue is more of a frustration for residents along North Ocotillo. Some landowners can't get home at night, or leave in the morning on rainy days when the road is flooded, and others have their properties completely flooded every time it rains. This winter that has happened several times.
Mark Gibbs said his property looks more like a lake when it rains, since he lives below many of the other property owners in the area.
"The first few years there, we never had any problems," said the 10-year property owner. "But as other property owners came in, we now get rain flow almost to our knees from one end of my property to the other."
With about 20 people attending the special meeting at Benson City Hall, property owners said they have been complaining about the flooding problems since 2005 with no relief.
Several said the county's attempts to rectify the problem have actually made it worse.
Property owners claimed grading has caused some of the issues, forcing rain water down the road as it seeks the river.
Riggs said while some solutions can be discussed, residents need to understand that Ocotillo Road has become a natural channel over time, and with big rains, flooding will occur.
Another problem was created when an unidentified person graded Larry Bingham Lane.
Riggs said whoever graded the privately owned road and connected it to Ocotillo should have sought permission from the county. That didn't happen and that road's being graded has caused more problems, she said.
Riggs said one solution is for landowners to donate a portion of their land to create a right-of-way for the county to come in and start fixing the problems.
While some landowners agree, Riggs said not all are in agreement on the ideas presented.
Riggs said all the county can do now is continue to gather information. As directed by Supervisor Richard Searle, the floodplain department will conduct a traffic count to see how much traffic crosses Ash Creek.
Riggs stressed that the county will do what it can to address the problems by monsoon season, but said it is more likely the flooding issues on Ocotillo Road will be put on next year's road plan.
 |
 |
|
| Mescal Fire Chief cited on domestic violence charge | Butterfield Plaza owner killed |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
