MOUNT VERNON — City council members agreed on Monday to accept the donation of two Prospect Street parcels from the Wesley L. Kline Trust. The parcels total .52 acres.
The lots have a large spring. City Engineer Brian Ball explained at the Nov. 13 council meeting that if the runoff is not maintained, it will run downhill onto other properties.
Council members questioned why the city should accept the donation and what the financial burden might be if the city does so.
“The purpose of us assuming this property would be to make sure it’s not developed,” Safety-service Director Tanner Salyers said.
“It’s also to protect people downstream from intentional or unintentional consequences of stormwater runoff because of potential development that would go in there,” Mayor Matt Starr added.
Several years ago, the city placed a drain on the property to control runoff. The city maintains the catch basin and will also maintain the drain.
Law Director Rob Broeren said the city would not be liable for drain issues if the Kline Trust retains ownership.
Councilman James Mahan referenced other situations where imperfect lot transactions led to stormwater problems.
“If this is a situation where we can protect the citizens in the development from having stormwater problems … and if we’re not taking on a significant burden, I think that might be a good idea,” he said.
“We assume some liability if we take on this property, but I assume it’s negligible,” Salyers said. “There’s not going to be a lot of activity. There might be a significant overflow, but that’s why we would take it on: to control that significant overflow.”
Council members voted 4-3 to strike the emergency clause from the legislation and then voted 6-1 to accept the donation.
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