PONTIAC, Mich. – A Pontiac homeowner is turning to an attorney after years of repeated basement flooding that he said has also affected several of his neighbors in the city’s Seminole Hills Historic District.
The most recent flooding happened during last week’s heavy rain, soaking basements along Miami Road and nearby streets.
Steve Layne and other homeowners Local 4 spoke with said this has been happening for years, and they’re frustrated.
“First of all, we want a resolution to our problem,” Layne said.
Layne, who has lived in his Miami Road home for six years, said his basement has flooded multiple times during that span. He shared photos of belongings he was forced to remove after last week’s storm flooded his basement again.
Layne said he regularly has his drains snaked to prevent backups and believes the cause lies beyond his property. A neighbor across the street recently brought in a restoration company to address water damage, and another homeowner down the block said he has experienced the same issue.
In response, Layne is now working with an attorney and going door to door, handing out letters to neighbors.
The letters invite residents to join a potential legal case against the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office at no cost.
“It’s a little bit of a ping pong in terms of blame,” Layne said. “Over the weekend, we called after hours, and they were insistent on it being the DPW’s problem, the city, and the following week it was the county’s.”
Local 4 contacted both the city of Pontiac and the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office seeking clarity on the source of the problem.
Pontiac’s mayor sent a statement that said:
“We want all Pontiac neighborhoods and all of our residents to have a good quality of life in their homes, and that’s certainly also true for the historic Seminole Hills neighborhood. Our city team checked the storm sewers in that area to ensure there were no obstructions and they were able to confirm that the storm sewers were flowing and no obstructions found. We will continue to closely monitor this situation and be as supportive and responsive as possible.”
Mike McGuinness, Mayor of Pontiac
In a statement, Jim Nash, the Water Resources Commissioner said:
“The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office operates and maintains Pontiac’s drinking water and sanitary sewer systems, while the City of Pontiac’s Department of Public Works (DPW) manages the stormwater system. Residents experiencing drinking water or sewer concerns should contact our office directly, and stormwater issues should be directed to Pontiac DPW. Pontiac has experienced significantly above-average rainfall this year, which can contribute to localized flooding caused by multiple factors, including conditions on private property. Our office and the City continue working together to invest in infrastructure improvements, securing more than $30 million in grants and funding in recent years to strengthen water and sewer systems serving Pontiac residents.”
Jim Nash, Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner
Layne said that the answer is not enough for residents who see water in their basements year after year.
“As far as what I want to know, what can be done?” Layne said.
Local 4 reached out to David Dubin, the attorney Layne is working with, and we are awaiting a response.