Belleville business owner says city needs to do more to fix flooding issues
A group of people huddled together beside a fire engine as rain poured down around them. In front of them was a pool of thigh-high water — mixed with trash and oil — that crept into cars, a garage, a small home and a tech repair shop.
As Belleville firefighters guided the residents of their rented home through the water, Dorian LeRoy, owner of NEC Technology Repairs and landlord of the adjacent house, watched on from under an umbrella as the store’s office manager, Michelle Bilek, spoke on the phone.
More than 6 inches of rain fell across parts of the metro east on Tuesday, causing flooding in multiple areas. Flooding has been a particular problem at the corner of East Main Street and Forest Avenue.
LeRoy said his property there has flooded three to four times since he moved there three years ago.
“Belleville needs to either put an efficient drainage system in or (put in) pumps,” LeRoy said. “They need to do something. This area floods too much.”
When the residents of the flooded house climbed up onto the dry sidewalk Tuesday, LeRoy asked if the firefighters would clear the backyard sewage drain, which clogs witbh debris as flood waters try recede, just as it did again Tuesday.
The firefighters said rescue calls were constant, so they had no time for clogged drains.
They then drove away, leaving the LeRoy and Bilek alone at their now flooded business.
“We should move to Collinsville,” LeRoy joked to Bilek. Later, he said it as a matter of fact.
LeRoy said his property sits in a low spot, where water tends to pool sooner than in other areas.
According to LeRoy, the East Main Street sewer drain clogs first, then the water backs up into his yard. When that gets cleared, all the water and trash gets sent into the back and clogs that drain.
Even though they didn’t clear the other drains, LeRoy was still thankful that the firefighters were available to help.
Bilek said the store flooded quickly. She warned against stepping in the water due to possible electricity currents.
She also said in the past the water has backed up through the toilet.
LeRoy said if the backyard drain isn’t cleared, the water could last for five to six hours. About two hours after the flooding started, a worker for the city of Belleville arrived to began clearing out the drain in the back yard, where three cars were submerged in water to the middle of their doors.
LeRoy said in a past flood, he’d spent upward of $25,000 to fully repair the damages.
“I just rebounded from that one last year,” he said. “I don’t know how much this one will cost. (Belleville) either needs to fix the problem, or we need to move.”
