A homeowner says his house is sinking near Auburn after King County raised a road in front of his house and failed to put in a bigger culvert as planned.
Homeowner Mike Lund says the creek now overflows into his property and home. The septic system backed up and the house was flooded with raw sewage.
The county says the house is in a flood zone.
This is a debate that rages in the Pacific Northwest too often. Why are homes permitted to be built in flood-prone areas? Why didn't the county fix the culvert when it raised the road?
Now, the county says they can't fix this problem until spring when salmon are no longer spawning. Neighbors laugh at that.They say they've never seen a fish in that waterway.
Who will have the last laugh? The courts will decide.
We have lived in the neighborhood for almost 30 years. The road has always flooded. Mr. Lund I believe has created his own problem. The "pasture" has always had water standing during heavy rain seasons. By clearing the blueberry shrubs from the field and filling in the property with fill and bark the water has to go somewhere. I have to ask why is Mr. Lunds property the only residence with a problem? If there is raw sewage under the house wouldn't that maybe be a problem with the septic system. I believe Mr. Lund is looking for the county to fix his problems at the taxpayors expense.
adrian e lawler said:
The information Mike Lund as reported is correct and accurate. I was caretaker of this land for over 35 years for the previous owner,Ella Olson, and this land never flooded. There was a culvert under the road at the east end of the property to drain water south towards Lake. Dollof.When the county raised the road the culvert was omitted.
adrian e lawler said:
The information Mike Lund as reported is correct and accurate. I was caretaker of this land for over 35 years for the previous owner,Ella Olson, and this land never flooded. There was a culvert under the road at the east end of the property to drain water south towards Lake. Dollof.When the county raised the road the culvert was omitted.
Michael Lund said:
In response to Mr. Smith's opinion on my property and problem: October of 2005, King County raised the road and didn't put a culvert under the road. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water that used to go over the road now lake up my property. The reason the blueberry bushes are gone and the wood chips are in the pasture, as I told King County officials, after you complained about the wood chips, the lake that's now on my property is flooding my leech field and septic tank, causing my house to sink, breaking the pipes under my house. I had to push 40 to 60 yards of sewage contaminated dirt out in the field to bury because King County, all departments, refused to acknowledge this problem for two years. So I buried the raw sewage under wood chips, repeatedly calling every agency I could think of for help. Now YOU know what's out there. King County says there is salmon in that ditch. You tell me what's in that ditch. I'm living in it! Thank you for your support.
robertojose said:
Apparently government employees at all levels are being taught to lie to tax-paying citizens. Do these dedicated civil-servants attend seminars on how to be consumate liars?
SY said:
I have driven past Mr. Lunds property on my way to school for 13 years and never seen it the way it is since they fixed (the counties way) and raised the road. It is true the road does'nt flood but everywhere around it does. By the way there is no creek its a ditch. I have seen the wood chips but I don't seem to know how that would effect flooding. Apparently Mr. Smith is on higher elevation (could that be it) so he doesnt have to worry. Not at all surprised at the county actions. And where is the salmon in a ditch!!!
victor langsy said:
The information Mike Lund as reported is correct and accurate. i have been going to school for 9 years at lake Dolloff school and kilo middle school. and when i had to go to school i had to walk in the deep water on my road and y mom had to bring me dry clothes. and now they fixed the road and all the water now going on to there buleberry farm. making there house sink. i have been in there house and it is TRY. i am friends with there son.
J.Kober said:
I have to say that Mr.Smith has a point. Why haven't the other residents been having the same problems. I lived in that neighborhood for over 20 years and consistantly saw water over the road, in the pastures (on both sides of the road) every fall and winter. It was very common to have that roadway flood everytime it rained. I remember when the roadway was closed for the raising of the road, and thought, thank goodness that the county is finally doing something.
I suppose they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
I also know that when my family bought a house in that area, the drain field had to be replaced and there was a sewage problem in our home as well. Why? Because alot of the homes in that neighborhood, along with the one in question, are old. What is required of someone when they purchase a home? Dealing with normal wear and tear and replacing items depending on how long they've been in place.
I would like to know if the other 3 homes next to the home in question have the same issue. That was not reported and it appears it is someone trying to have the county pay for something they should have expected when purchasing a home of that age.
Also, did the previous owner have problems of this caliber when they lived there?
I think there are more things to investigate in this matter than blowing up at the county for not doing their job and wasting our tax dollars.
Good luck.
B. Walker said:
As the Real Estate agent for Mrs. Olsen, who sold the home to Mr. Lund, I'll first respond to the unthought out comments made by Mr. Smith. First of all, anyone who knew Mrs. Olsen, knew her as a very honest person, and when she stated her property didn't flood, it didn't flood! At the same time he is trying to accuse Mr. Lund of looking to the county to fix problems he created, he forgets the county admitted they didn't finish the job, and in essence, created the issue. Knowing the property a lot better than Mr. Smith, and, seeing the damage that has been created ever since the road was "fixed", and, knowing the property from well before even Mr. Lund owned it, as well as paying attention to the statements made by the county,etc., makes it obvious that the problems were created after the county job wasn't finished correctly!
According to professionals I have talked to, they state that when the leech field is constantly flooded, it forces the septic system to go in reverse, pushing the water back up the pipes.
What is wasting our tax payers money, is the county doing a partial job, admitting they didn't do thier homework before doing the job, and not finishing the job, ie putting the culverts in at the same time they "fixed the road." Don't forget that Mr. Lund is one of the tax payers mentioned, and has the same rights the rest of us do. Anyone else that got put in his situation, would be or should be concerned by what has happened. Not having to drive through a lake on the road, makes it nicer for everyone else, but, it shouldn't ever be done at the expense of one party.
If I lived in the neighborhood, I would be doing everything possible to get the county to fix this problem now, instead of waiting until next year as they say they are going to do, before it affects even more of you!
We have lived in the neighborhood for almost 30 years. The road has always flooded. Mr. Lund I believe has created his own problem. The "pasture" has always had water standing during heavy rain seasons. By clearing the blueberry shrubs from the field and filling in the property with fill and bark the water has to go somewhere. I have to ask why is Mr. Lunds property the only residence with a problem? If there is raw sewage under the house wouldn't that maybe be a problem with the septic system. I believe Mr. Lund is looking for the county to fix his problems at the taxpayors expense.
The information Mike Lund as reported is correct and accurate. I was caretaker of this land for over 35 years for the previous owner,Ella Olson, and this land never flooded. There was a culvert under the road at the east end of the property to drain water south towards Lake. Dollof.When the county raised the road the culvert was omitted.
The information Mike Lund as reported is correct and accurate. I was caretaker of this land for over 35 years for the previous owner,Ella Olson, and this land never flooded. There was a culvert under the road at the east end of the property to drain water south towards Lake. Dollof.When the county raised the road the culvert was omitted.
In response to Mr. Smith's opinion on my property and problem: October of 2005, King County raised the road and didn't put a culvert under the road. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water that used to go over the road now lake up my property. The reason the blueberry bushes are gone and the wood chips are in the pasture, as I told King County officials, after you complained about the wood chips, the lake that's now on my property is flooding my leech field and septic tank, causing my house to sink, breaking the pipes under my house. I had to push 40 to 60 yards of sewage contaminated dirt out in the field to bury because King County, all departments, refused to acknowledge this problem for two years. So I buried the raw sewage under wood chips, repeatedly calling every agency I could think of for help. Now YOU know what's out there. King County says there is salmon in that ditch. You tell me what's in that ditch. I'm living in it! Thank you for your support.
Apparently government employees at all levels are being taught to lie to tax-paying citizens. Do these dedicated civil-servants attend seminars on how to be consumate liars?
I have driven past Mr. Lunds property on my way to school for 13 years and never seen it the way it is since they fixed (the counties way) and raised the road. It is true the road does'nt flood but everywhere around it does. By the way there is no creek its a ditch. I have seen the wood chips but I don't seem to know how that would effect flooding. Apparently Mr. Smith is on higher elevation (could that be it) so he doesnt have to worry. Not at all surprised at the county actions. And where is the salmon in a ditch!!!
The information Mike Lund as reported is correct and accurate. i have been going to school for 9 years at lake Dolloff school and kilo middle school. and when i had to go to school i had to walk in the deep water on my road and y mom had to bring me dry clothes. and now they fixed the road and all the water now going on to there buleberry farm. making there house sink. i have been in there house and it is TRY. i am friends with there son.
I have to say that Mr.Smith has a point. Why haven't the other residents been having the same problems. I lived in that neighborhood for over 20 years and consistantly saw water over the road, in the pastures (on both sides of the road) every fall and winter. It was very common to have that roadway flood everytime it rained. I remember when the roadway was closed for the raising of the road, and thought, thank goodness that the county is finally doing something.
I suppose they are damned if they do and damned if they don't.
I also know that when my family bought a house in that area, the drain field had to be replaced and there was a sewage problem in our home as well. Why? Because alot of the homes in that neighborhood, along with the one in question, are old. What is required of someone when they purchase a home? Dealing with normal wear and tear and replacing items depending on how long they've been in place.
I would like to know if the other 3 homes next to the home in question have the same issue. That was not reported and it appears it is someone trying to have the county pay for something they should have expected when purchasing a home of that age.
Also, did the previous owner have problems of this caliber when they lived there?
I think there are more things to investigate in this matter than blowing up at the county for not doing their job and wasting our tax dollars.
Good luck.
As the Real Estate agent for Mrs. Olsen, who sold the home to Mr. Lund, I'll first respond to the unthought out comments made by Mr. Smith. First of all, anyone who knew Mrs. Olsen, knew her as a very honest person, and when she stated her property didn't flood, it didn't flood! At the same time he is trying to accuse Mr. Lund of looking to the county to fix problems he created, he forgets the county admitted they didn't finish the job, and in essence, created the issue. Knowing the property a lot better than Mr. Smith, and, seeing the damage that has been created ever since the road was "fixed", and, knowing the property from well before even Mr. Lund owned it, as well as paying attention to the statements made by the county,etc., makes it obvious that the problems were created after the county job wasn't finished correctly!
According to professionals I have talked to, they state that when the leech field is constantly flooded, it forces the septic system to go in reverse, pushing the water back up the pipes.
What is wasting our tax payers money, is the county doing a partial job, admitting they didn't do thier homework before doing the job, and not finishing the job, ie putting the culverts in at the same time they "fixed the road." Don't forget that Mr. Lund is one of the tax payers mentioned, and has the same rights the rest of us do. Anyone else that got put in his situation, would be or should be concerned by what has happened. Not having to drive through a lake on the road, makes it nicer for everyone else, but, it shouldn't ever be done at the expense of one party.
If I lived in the neighborhood, I would be doing everything possible to get the county to fix this problem now, instead of waiting until next year as they say they are going to do, before it affects even more of you!