Concerned citizen engages Council on gas line issue

During last week’s meeting of Perry Mayor and council, Cheshire Place resident Warren Johnson spoke to council concerning issues of storm water in the subdivision, and gas lines. 

Johnson shared that while digging during the construction of a new deck in his backyard, he cut a gas line with his metal hole diggers. After turning off the gas to his house, Johnson said he discovered that the cut line was still live. Johnson explained that he called 911, and that when the fire department responded, they knew of the situation—the past practice of running plastic gas lines—and that the utility department, which Johnson said also seemed to be familiar with the situation, fixed the line with a dresser coupling.

Johnson further stated that the gas line ran under his deck—possibly under his house—and within inches of his concreate foundation, which he noted could have caused an issue if sparks had been created between the metal of his digging tool and the concrete at the time that the line was cut. When he called 811, Johnson revealed, they didn’t know that the line was there. Johnson noted that the gas utilities department also sent a letter that explained the process in which these lines were usually run, from the house to the gas main with no supplemental lines.

While the fire department and utilities department seem to know that this is an issue, Johnson said, “The people who don’t know it’s an issue are the utilities vocation people and the homeowners.”

Johnson noted that he wanted to raise awareness so that people can be notified if they are going to dig, because in specific situations, this may result in a real issue.

During the meeting, Mayor Randall Walker asked City Manager Lee Gilmour to have this issue investigated and thanked Johnson for bringing the issue to council’s attention.

The Houston Home Journal met with City Manager Lee Gilmour and Mayor Walker on Friday, during which time Gilmour explained that the gas line that was cut does run from the main line in a loop around Johnson’s house to his meter—which Gilmour said was the reason that gas was still coming from the line after the gas was cut off—but it is not a main line that feeds anyone else’s home, which would have needed an easement. Gilmour further explained that the city only installs the gas meter not the actual piping—which Gilmour says is almost always the responsibility of the builder—and also that the city does not recommend this type of plan for laying the line.

Gilmour said the city intends to report its findings back to Mr. Johnson and present him with two options: to leave the piping where it is, or to have a new tap installed on the main line and run a pipe directly to his meter up the side of his house. Johnson will be allowed to decide which he would like done.

Johnson also spoke of the problem of storm water in Cheshire Place, which he said affected his neighbor more so than himself. According to Johnson, the storm water has been an issue for months, and calls have been made to the construction developer for the Legacy Park subdivision, and that there have been attempts made to rectify the issue by the developer, but none have been effective. Johnson also said that city officials have become involved as well, such as Director of Engineering Chad McMurrian, Storm Water Inspector Sarah Nottingham and Assistant City Manager Robert Smith.

Johnson explained that the issue is man-made and not a natural phenomenon, as land lots that he described as a bog, were raised two feet by developers. Johnson said that the developers informed McMurrian that the lots had been sloped toward the Legacy Park side, in the direction of the road. But in pictures that he submitted to council, Johnson said that it can be seen that there is sloping in the direction of Cheshire residences.

“Somebody is misleading somebody on this issue, and we’re bearing the brunt,” Johnson said. He further explained that his reason for speaking on the issue was to ask council to use their authority to require the developer to provide a permanent fix to the issue so that storm water will not continue to be a problem during periods of heavy rain. Johnson also noted that if the water issue is only stopped in one location, it will simply move to the next lot.

On Friday, Gilmour informed that what is being done will be determined by whether there is a disruption in the storm water flow, and if there is, the extent, and options to resolve the issue. Gilmour shared that the there is the observation that there has been a previous issue with water ponding in the area and that this has also been observed in other parts of the city as well.

Gilmour explained that the city’s consulting engineer has been instructed, per council’s direction, to run analysis, including elevation shots, and to determine based on the development if there is anything that could be done.

“Once we have the results, we would take a look at that and if there is something that the city needs to do to correct [the issue] then we will proceed with that,” Gilmour said. He further indicated that if there was nothing to be done, the city would advise Mr. Johnson as to that.

Gilmour explained that storm water flow doesn’t only affect one parcel or lot, but that the entire basin and area, including surrounding properties, has to be taken into account.

Additionally, he spoke to the willingness of council to hear the issues of constituents.

“The council is always willing and encourages any of its residents to come and let them know, either directly or if they have questions about answers that they’ve gotten from city staff or whatever the case may be,” Gilmour said. He further explained that council requires that these issues that are brought to their attention be addressed, but he clarified, “that does not mean that the petitioner will like the answer, because sometimes it just doesn’t work.” Gilmour also said that after the issue is addressed, the found information would be provided to the concerned party.