Sonja Domene, who lives at the corner of 85 Street and 74 Avenue in downtown Osoyoos, appeared before members of town council on Monday to voice her complaints about repeated flooding in her yard and the surrounding area. Domene said she thought most of the problems would be fixed following recent construction and upgrades in the area, but flooding was terrible during the Canada Day long weekend. Photo by Keith Lacey.
Every time there’s any kind of accumulation of rainfall, Sonja Domene admits she has a tough time sleeping, worried her front yard is going to turn into another large swimming pool.
“I’ve been living here for 16 years and I’ve been complaining about this for 16 years,” Domene told members of town council’s committee of the whole meeting Monday morning.
Domene, who lives on the corner of 74 Avenue and 85 Street in downtown Osoyoos, where she owns and operates the Manuel’s Tiles small business, told members of council she was assured new construction along 85 Street was designed to help alleviate most of the flooding problems that have become a regular occurrence in her neighbourhood over several years.
“During eight months of construction, I didn’t complain much, but the flooding problems were worse after eight months of construction,” she said.
Her property was once again severely flooded following massive amounts of rain that fell on the area over the Canada Day long weekend, said Domene.
When she found out a new, large pump that was supposed to be installed near her neighbourhood during recent construction upgrades was not operational during the Canada Day flooding, she became upset and wanted to bring her concerns to council, said Domene.
“I want to know what’s going on down there because it’s only getting worse,” she said.
While her yard turns into a large swimming pool virtually every time there is significant rainfall, the interior of her property has remained dry, but several neighbours in the area have to endure flooded basements almost every time there is significant precipitation, which is very frustrating for them, she said.
“My house doesn’t flood, but I know three of my neighbours get flooded out every time” there is significant rainfall, she said.
Mayor Stu Wells visited Domene and her neighbours following the Canada Day weekend rainstorms and acknowledged “it was a disaster down there.”
It’s unfortunate the contractor did not have the pump functioning as it should have by the time the long weekend rolled around, said Wells.
“When we did all the work down there, there were some mistakes made, including the pump not being wired properly,” he said. “I believe we now have it fixed.”
The good news is the contractor hired to install the new pump has been contacted and the pump and newly-installed infrastructure that was constructed during road upgrades in the area should work much better next time there is significant rainfall, said Ron Doucette, the town’s director of operations.
Doucette said it’s frustrating when contractors are hired and don’t meet all the obligations of a contract, but the contractor in this case has assured him the new pump has been properly installed and wired and will be operational from now on.
Town crews are also regularly sent out in this area following heavy rains to ensure storm drains are cleared and water flows are controlled and redirected if necessary, said Doucette.
This past weekend, he personally went to check the area following Sunday’s rain and “everything appeared to be working fine,” said Doucette.
The town is hopeful the new pumps and infrastructure will significantly reduce flooding problems in the area near Domene’s residence and business, but no one will know for sure just how well the upgrades are working until the next major storm, said Doucette.
Wells said he sympathizes with Domene because flooding in this area has been a regular problem for years; however, he’s confident the new pump and infrastructure improvements will drastically reduce the amount of flooding problems in the area now that everything appears to be working as it should.
Wells thanked Domene for coming before council.
“This is such a good way for us to get things done,” he said.
