Carlos Rosales took to Facebook last week to get the city’s attention.

What he isn’t likely to get any time soon is a permanent solution.

On Dec. 27, Rosales — who owns Tampico Bay restaurant and rental properties next door on College Street between 14th and 15th streets, posted photos on the restaurant’s Facebook page, showing flooding that had backed up into parking lot. The post included a notice that the restaurant would be closed until further notice.

The restaurant is scheduled to re-open Saturday.

It was not the first time the property has been forced to close because of flooding, said Rosales, who opened the restaurant and bar near the east end of the Mississippi University for Women campus in 2005.

“We’ve had water come up, sometimes even into the restaurant many times,” Rosales said. “Sometimes, we’ve had to close for two or three days. Sometimes, it’s up to a week.”

Over the years, Rosales said he has called Columbus officials many times to bring up the issue, but his Facebook post seems to have renewed the push for a solution.

“I did get a call from (Columbus Public Information officer) Joe Dillon,” Rosales said. “He said they would set up a meeting with us to explain what’s going on there.”

Included in that meeting will be Kevin Stafford, the city’s engineer.

“I think we’re going to meet with Mr. Rosales and his family next week when (city public works director) Casey Bush gets back from vacation,” Stafford said.

Area has flooded for decades

Chances are, those most affected by the flooding in the area aren’t going to like what they hear.

“Historically, flooding has always been a problem in that area,” Stafford said. “In 1971, the city did a study and identified about 50 areas where flooding was an issue and listed them according to priority. In 1971, that area on College Street was No. 5 on the list. The four areas higher on the list were in East Columbus, and while I’m not sure if all four were addressed, I know some of them were. If the list were done today, College Street might be No. 1 on the list.”

Stafford said there are two primary reasons for the flooding in the area.

“The topography, obviously, is a factor,” he said. “It’s a low-lying area to start with. But the bigger issue is the drainage infrastructure.”

Specifically, Stafford said, flooding can be attributed to the draining system south of the area.

“Downstream, there are some choke points where the flow is about 10 percent of what it needs to be,” said Stafford, who said all of the rainwater ultimately flows into the Luxapalila creek. “What happens is the water backs up and forms what is basically a retention pond until the water can finally channel out through those pipes.”

A costly project

Recognizing the problem has never been a problem, Stafford said. Finding the funds to correct the problem continues to be the issue.

“Back in 1971, as part of the study, they did do a cost estimate of what it would take to replace those pipes and solve the problem,” Stafford said. “The estimate was $450,000. But in today’s money and meeting today’s standards, you are probably looking at, conservatively, $2 million to $3 million to fix the problem.”

With the city trying to cut costs following a near $881,000 budget deficit in FY 2018, finding the money to make those repairs is unlikely in the immediate future.

Rosales said he understands it could be costly to remedy the problem. Even so, he believes, the city can do more to alleviate it so he can do business.

“What I was told was that (the city) could come every two or three months and clean out the drains and make sure the pipes haven’t collapsed,” Rosales said. “They don’t even do that. Really, the only thing that happens is they bring out a couple of sawhorses to block the street.”

Under the present circumstances, Rosales said, it creates a continuing public safety issue.

“I’m concerned about someone being hurt,” Rosales said. “I can’t tell you how many times we’ve helped people get out of their cars when they’ve got stuck in the flooding. At night, it’s really dangerous. When you’re driving east on College Street, you’re in the water before you see it. It’s a dangerous situation.”

Ward 4 city councilman Fred Jackson, who represents the affected area, said the city is aware of the problem and working to at least mitigate it.

“What we are in the process of getting done is going in and doing some cleaning, trying to see if there is any blockage in those drains,” he said. “I’ve looked into seeing if there are grants available to help with a solution, but I haven’t found anything so far.”

Stafford said there are grants available for drainage projects, but they are difficult to obtain.

“The grants that are available are super competitive and require matching funds,” Stafford said. “They are difficult to get.”

Rosales realizes a permanent solution may be a long time coming, but he’d appreciate any effective help he can get.

“I’d just like the city to do what it can,” he said. “Putting out sawhorses doesn’t fix the problem.”

Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].

READER FAVORITES

• 

  West Point senior living community to close by end of year

  By Braden Simmons • 2 days ago

• 

  $200M ADI expansion delivers another 100 jobs

  By Emma McRae • 2 days ago

• 

  Germany’s Great Bavarian Circus to make first-ever stop in Columbus

  By Ashlyn Joyner • 2 days ago

• 

  In surprise move, Ward hired outright as new police chief

  By Zack Plair • 1 day ago