On September 10, a severe rainstorm battered Menands. The next morning, residents of N Lyons Avenue, Brookside Avenue, and Villa awoke to flooding, debris, mud, and washouts in their homes and around their properties.
One of the hardest-hit areas was the library and surrounding properties. Recent construction at the library appears to have altered drainage patterns, leading to significant washouts. Shockingly, these washouts even exposed recently buried electrical wires, which, to the surprise of many, were not encased in conduit.
For long-time locals, this storm echoed a prior incident when flooding occurred after the retention pond at Sage Estates was “too high”. The pond’s water level is adjustable and was thought to be regulated to prevent flooding.
Seeking answers, I reached out to the Village Clerk, in an email:
“Hi Don,
I’m sure that you are aware of the washout/flooding on North Lyons. The drainage issue has been getting increasingly worse, and was likely a contributing factor in the tree falling & wiping out my Car & RV.
The last time it was this bad, the pond level at Sage was at too high a stage. How is that being managed? Is there a plan to look into the source of this worsening runoff & finding a fix?
Thanks in advance for your reply,
Chuck Price.”
The clerk’s response provided some clarity:
“Chuck,
The Mayor has directed our Village engineers, LaBella, to investigate this issue after reviewing the damage caused by Sunday’s rainstorm.
We would like to note the following in response to your email dated 9/11/23:
- The ponds at Sage Estate are private. They are owned and managed by the Sage Estate Homeowners Association, not by the Village of Menands. The creek which runs along the fence directly behind the Menands Library is on private property.
- The storm culvert at the Menands Library is privately owned on private property (the Menands Library). The Menands DPW has occasionally maintained this storm water entry point as a courtesy (as we did on 9/11/23).
- The Village of Menands does not get involved with neighbor legal disputes, which is what this seems to be.
That said, the Mayor will be communicating with his contacts at the Sage Estate Association to ensure they are aware of these issues downstream and with LaBella to see if they have any recommended solutions.”
To all Menands residents reading this, know that you are not alone in your experiences. Many of your neighbors share your concerns and are actively seeking solutions.
Call to Action: This is a time for Menands residents to unite and work collaboratively to find solutions. Attend Village Board meetings, engage with local officials, and make your voice heard. Together, we can make Menands better for all.