|
Mayor Nick Sortal's Special Stormwater Update
We’ve had a lot of questions pop up after our recent rain events so I thought I’d do what I can to get it straight.
My area is flooded. Who to contact?
We have a stormwater manager, Bill Mulder. His email is BMulder@Plantation.org. Email is great because he can then forward to other staff. Include an address and phone number, please. One photo is usually enough. And I know you’re frustrated, but whether it’s a compelling narrative or a quick note, our service level will be the same.
|
Stormwater manager?
What’s up with that?
In the past year, we have ramped up preparation and reaction to rain events. Bill works under City Engineer Samira Shalan, who has a passion for stormwater management like I’ve never seen. So Bill has been evaluating troublesome areas and getting to work. For example, he and his four-person crew did a massive cleanout out the Park East area (Northwest 46th Avenue) and we showed the difference during a homeowners’ meeting there. The problems should be reduced.
|
What’s our worst area?
Country Club Estates, south of Broward all the way to Peters, needs the most help. The homes are mostly older and the community was built with no stormwater drainage. (It’s also lacking sewage.) During the April 12 rain event, water stayed and stayed and we actually drove trucks into the area, used vacuums to collect standing water, then transported the water out of there. City Engineer Shalan has worked on two fixes that will provide at least some relief. She spoke with DOT and the Turnpike people and we will connect pipes in the neighborhood to transport water east and west into nearby canals, using the DOT’s existing structures.
|
What about Plantation Acres?
The city is not responsible for water management in the Acres. They are governed by the Plantation Acres Improvement District, and their residents pay taxes for pumps, employees and other items. It’s problematic in the Acres because the land is very much like at the bottom of a bowl. Gravity is not their friend. This year, our Chief Administrative Officer, Jason Nunemaker, reasoned that although we are not responsible, they are still our residents. So he sent a spare pump we had to help especially the south portion of the area. I have worked to improve communication with PAID officials and we will help when we can. It is in everyone’s best interest if PAID succeeds.
|
What can I do?
Make sure the drains on your property are clear of leaves and other objects, so water will flow. Understand that there will be flooding and we want to make sure the roads are passable as soon as possible, but our major goal is defending property. And sometimes patience is in order: If there are big puddles outside, they will dissipate with time.
|
What about long-term?
We allocated $1.277 million in ARPA funding for the development of a citywide stormwater master plan that’s under way. Nunemaker scours the city for sites for more retention ponds. We will likely evaluate some trees in swales that have grown too large and are blocking water flow.. We are studying which drains are ours, which belong to a HOA and which could be under the auspices of South Florida Water Management District or Old Plantation Water District. This SFWMD brochure explains how it works.
What else?
Well, while Mulder is called a stormwater manager, he’s basically overseeing all facets of our waterways. That means when there’s too much algae, he’s the one to contact. We recently changed waterway maintenance contractors because there were some spots that just weren’t being kept up enough.
Mayor Nick Sortal regularly provides updates from City Hall. To receive them automatically in your inbox, click HERE.
|
