The 4-foot-deep pit in Tod DiMinno's backyard floods during periods of heavy rainfall. The pit was created after pipe work was performed years ago. DiMinno said the pit itself is a hazard. Harmony council members discussed flooding issues at their meeting Tuesday evening.

HARMONY — Drainage issues facing the borough were discussed by the council Tuesday evening.

Council expressed frustration over the apparent lack of assistance from the state Department of Transportation over one problem area on Route 68, a state road, where water runoff washes debris and silt onto the borough's side.

The runoff has caused clogging of a culvert pipe under the road, blocking water flow and causing flooding.

“It needs to be cleaned out,” said council member Jason Sarver. “I recognize the frustration. I just refuse to kick the can down the street.”

Sarver said while surveying the pipe, which is about 5 feet high and 6 feet wide, a local resident informed him people could walk through it at one point. However, the silt and debris has collected to the point that water cannot flow through.

Local resident Bob Ziegler, who has been working with the borough on the issue, said a PennDOT representative suggested that the borough use limestone and coal patching to help divert water.

“He said that's our problem,” Ziegler said.

However, no written statement has been given to council.

“It's in their right of way,” said borough solicitor Matt Racunas. “We should probably get something in writing.”

Council member Don Sims suggested the matter should be taken to state Rep. Jim Marshall, R-14th, and state Sen. Elder Vogel, R-47th.

“He's the direct link,” Sims said of Marshall. “He can tell them (PennDOT) the concern.”

Council at its November meeting addressed the borough's draining issues and identified three geographic drainage zones.

Zone 1 starts at Mercer street and runs into the Connoquenessing Creek. Zone 2 starts at the railroad tracks along German Street and ends at Mercer Street, which includes a pit on Tod DiMinno's property that contributes to flooding DiMinno's yard and basement. Zone 3 starts at 1st Street and ends at the railroad tracks.

Sarver said information is being gathered as to how to combat the problem, including cleaning out the clogged parts, replacing old grates and digging new areas for water to flow.

“You can't take a backhoe there,” Ziegler said. “PennDOT basically said you can vacuum it out or blow it out. Then you have to load a truck to get it out of there.”

Two rain storms recently caused this kind of flooding in the area, including on DiMinno's property.

“The stream backed up, circled around Tod's property, went down to his basement and flooded the neighbor's yard,” Sarver said. “That shouldn't be acceptable.”

“It's gotten worse and worse,” he continued.

No time frame was given as to when work may start on the areas.