TRURO - A Truro resident is cautiously optimistic the town will help solve flooding issues in his neighbourhood.
Kevin Gromack has lived on Harris Avenue for four years. It's an area of town that didn't used to suffer from flooding but has in recent years. He is one of many people in the town who have been anxiously awaiting a permanent fix to flooding issues. And while there isn't a concrete solution yet, town officials stated this week that within a month or so there should be a community meeting to discuss flooding concerns with residents.
"That's what I wanted to happen," said Gromack, who was one of three people who submitted a letter of concern to town council last week, requesting a meeting.
"I'm hoping they will make a promise to resolve flooding problems. It's the town's responsibility to solve the problem."
Part of the problem for Gromack is living in constant fear during heavy rain and staying up the majority of the night fearing the worst and preparing for early cleanup.
"When there is heavy rain I can't sleep. I'm up throughout the night and get out the pumps at 5 in the morning," said Gromack, who lost $10,000 in renovations to his basement three years ago because of flooding and has spent $14,000 on landscaping his backyard because of water issues.
The problem in his neighbourhood, he said, is that "way too much water is coming from other (adjoining) streets and from Truro elementary school and the storm water pipes can't handle all the rain ... and are not draining, especially in slopped driveways," Gromack said.
He said the existence of the elementary school, which is only a couple of streets behind Harris Avenue, worsens flooding conditions in his neighbourhood because "its soccer field and the trees that used to be there that were cleared to make way for the school are gone so the water is displaced."
Gromack said it's not the first time he has sought the town's help with flooding issues. Three years ago he approached the town about the neighbourhood's water woes and got a petition of about 10 people in the area to support his plea.
"But nothing was done," he said.
He's hoping the chance to have face-to-face, community-wide communication will change that.
"I hope the town makes a promise to fix this. I can live with a promise as long as the town fulfills its promise ... (hopefully) by the spring," said Gromack who said the quality of his family's life, including his wife and six-year-old sons, is compromised.
"This is no way to live and we shouldn't be living in fear ... we're on a hill and it shouldn't be happening," Gromack said. "I'm so stressed I can't take it anymore and we are begging the town for help. I'm going to be so relentless and I will not stop."
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
