Heavier than Usual Flooding at New Construction Site

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Since heavy rains last week, there’s been heavy flooding on the Iliili to airport road near the intersection to Ottoville.

According to many drivers who drove through 4 ft, deep water in the area, the construction site for the Argosy University campus, a project of the Haleck family, is the cause of the heavier than usual flooding.

But Avamua Dave Haleck disputes their project is the cause of the flooding.

Ottoville truck strugglesKHJ News witnessed that during heavy rains yesterday the flooding was not contained to the usual section of the road which floods, the part where the bus pullout is, but was extended across the road to the parking lot of the SSAB Store .
Photos of the knee deep water that covered the parking lot were posted by SSAB staff on Face Book.

Some people have described the flooding seen Monday to the lake in front of the LDS Stake Center in Ottoville and are calling on the relevant government agencies to take action now to ensure that the Argosy Campus does not cause a second lake when the project is finished.

But according to developer Avamua Dave Haleck the flooding in this area is a design fault when the road was put in.

He says the flooding in this section of the highway is not new and he doesn’t believe their project is adding to it.

Avamua suggests that the government should construct a proper storm water system not only for this area but for the entire island.

 

Ottoville floodsKHJ News asked the businessman for details of the fill and elevation plans as well as drainage mitigation for the construction site.

He says they have an engineered approved mitigation plan to retain site drainage.

According to Avamua building roof water and parking elevations will flow towards this area.

Tuala-uta faipule Larry Sanitoa, also wrote to Avamua after receiving complaints from constituents.

In his response to Sanitoa , Avamua says they are currently filling the construction site to accommodate the height of the floor level of the building and the site slope will be inland or to the north towards their approved civil engineered drainage system.

He said the plan for the two story building is to retain all roof and surface run off.

Avamua goes on to say it’s easy to lay blame on the new construction but it should not be.

He reminded that he allowed ASG and McConnell Dowell to excavate a larger drainage field on their property without any compensation and said this was their community commitment to assist with the flooding.

According to the Avamua no thank you or acknowledgement of their assistance was provided.

When the contractor McConnell Dowell started the work, he said, he met with them and Reuben Siatuu of Public Works to use only the allowed 35 foot setback from the centerline of the road as required by law to conduct this drainage mitigation.

Avamua asked what has happened to this drainage plan and why wasn’t it working?

He added that ASG must have paid a lot to get this work done and if it doesn’t work then don’t point at his new project as the cause of the flooding.

Avamua did leave some leeway: He said he will meet next week with his contractor to see what can be done with the security fencing which is to protect the site from the public while construction is on going.

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