Woodbury To Dig Into Drainage Problem

Residents who live along Laurel and Greenbrier streets in Woodbury appealed to the Town of Woodbury Board of Mayor and Aldermen for help with an ongoing drainage problem Tuesday night.

The problem stems from a drain that runs under Highway 53 South and funnels water into a gulley which extends almost 500 feet behind homes on Greenbrier and Laurel.

Residents Steve Nixon and Chuck Holt told the board that when it rains the water builds up and causes erosion to their property.

Holt said he was paying more in property taxes, but has less property.

But the bigger problem, Nixon said, is the water is also bringing and dumping debris on the property of the residents who live along the gulley, including some which pose potential hazards to people, including children.

Nixon brought to the meeting a five-gallon bucket which contained rusted metal and other items he collected from the gulley, and also said he had picked up glass, hypodermic needles and syringes.

He said he was afraid to let his five-year-old daughter play in the area of his yard near the ditch.

"I'm scared to let her out because there is no telling what she is going to step on," Nixon said.

According to both Nixon and Holt, the town voted years ago to do something to fix the problem, but nothing materialized.

Long-time city attorney Bill Bryson said the holdup has been that the land adjacent to the gulley is private property.

"We can not go in on property that the city does not own without an easement," Bryson said.

Nixon and Holt said that they believed they could convince landowners along the route to grant easements.

Nixon also showed the board minutes from a 1988 meeting which indicated the board at that time gave consideration to installing a tile drain, the cost of which was estimated to be $50,000.

Current Woodbury Mayor Harold Patrick said that the town would discuss the matter with former aldermen, check minutes from prior meetings and get an estimate on the cost of installing a drainage pipe of tile drain in the gulley.

In other matters Tuesday the board:

• Held a public hearing regarding Ordinance No. 432, an ordinance adopting the 2006 edition of the International Building Code, and adopted it on second and final reading.

• Held a public hearing regarding Ordinance No. 433, an ordinance amending the Town of Woodbury Municipal Zoning Ordinance, regulating development within the corporate limits of Woodbury, Tennessee, to minimize danger to life and property due to flooding and to maintain eligibility for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, and adopted it on second and final reading.

• Heard from Daisy Gannon of Cannon County Youth Dream about the Cannon Blast 5k Run planned for Sept. 25. Gannon requested a police officer to be posted at one of the stations along the race route during the event. Chief of Police Tony Burnett said he would arrange to make an officer available.

• Heard from Mayor Patrick about a Murfreesboro dry cleaning business, Heritage Cleaners, which is planning to start local pickups. Patrick said the company would pick up clothes on Mondays and return them on Wednesdays. If the business gets enough customers here, it would consider opening up a local establishment, Patrick said.