Grant sought to fix flooding problems at Oakmont Commons

Oakmont officials plan to seek a $500,000 grant to help fix flooding problems in the Oakmont Commons housing development.

Council unanimously adopted a resolution Monday proclaiming its intent to apply for the funds through the Commonwealth Financing Authority’s Flood Mitigation Program.

Borough Manager Scot Fodi said the deadline for the grant application is at the end of the month, and the resolution was part of the process.

It’s a matching grant with the borough on the hook for about 15% should it be awarded.

Senate Engineering submitted plans and models earlier this year to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for review to determine the next course of action in alleviating concerns of dozens of residents impacted by floods in July 2019.

The borough’s Commons housing plan was among several parts of Allegheny County devastated by those storms.

Jay Quade, senior inspector for Senate Engineering, said plans are still being updated and will be sent back to the Corps for further review before they are finalized.

Preliminary drawings will be submitted with the grant application as the borough awaits its final report, Fodi said.

Among the proposed flooding solutions were raising the elevation of the old Plum Creek railroad bed, and removing debris from what’s colloquially called “leaf pile park” near the Commons.

However, borough Engineer Amber Yon said in recent meetings that models showed those efforts could be futile.

Council’s actions to help the Commons on Monday night did not sit well with resident Ted Sokol, who said he’s been fighting with the borough for decades to do something about flooding near his home along Plum Street.

“This council turns its deaf ear to it every damn time, just like tonight,” he said. “I want to know what made 20 people from the Commons so damn special and us on Plum Street don’t get a damn thing. Tell me. Because some of you have been there. If you don’t think I have a right to be angry you’re wrong. … Last July, I was in water up to my knees and there is no reason for it.”

He suggested Oakmont seek legal action to force Plum, Penn Hills and Verona to address Plum Creek and flooding problems plaguing the communities.

Council members sat in silence after Sokol took them to task for alleged inaction.

“This is what I get every time,” Sokol said outside council chambers. “We’re the bottom of the food chain.”

Resident Bill Sines of Plum Street said his property has been flooded four times in eight years. He asked council to find solutions for their street as well as the Commons.

Fodi said Plum Street is “a totally different bird” than the Oakmont Commons, but there will be discussions with the borough engineer about how to address those residents’ concerns.

Councilwoman Carrie DelRosso said she did speak with someone from the Army Corps of Engineers about Plum Street this week, and was directed to the state Department of Environmental Protection for further discussion.

Sokol said the flooding problem will not be fixed until they dredge Plum Creek, something he said DEP will never approve.

Council did vote Monday night to award phase two of the Plum Creek bank rehabilitation and gravel bar removal project to C. Crump Inc. at a cost of $71,300.

Fodi said the project is designed to restore the creek banks to impact the flow of water and help mitigate any flooding in the area.