Photo by Deb Gau Residents on South Whitney and South High Streets in Marshall say wet weather causes everything from flooding to potholes on the gravel alley running down the center of the block. But some homeowners say a proposal to pave the alley in concrete, as well as putting in a storm sewer, would cost more than benefit their properties. Only some properties have garage or driveway access to the alley.

MARSHALL — Some Marshall homeowners are rethinking their support of a plan to pave their back alleyway.

While members of the Marshall City Council have moved forward a request to pave and build a storm sewer in the alley between South Whitney Street and South High Street, some of the feedback at a public hearing on Tuesday was negative.

Some homeowners said they thought assessment costs to pave the alley would be more than the benefit they would receive from the project.

“We feel we were a bit blindsided by the addition of the concrete,” Kevin Veldhuisen said of the paving. He estimated his property could be assessed more than $8,000 for the project.

A public hearing at Tuesday’s meeting of the city council was focused on a petition by homeowners from the 100 and 200 blocks of South Whitney and South High streets. Petitioners were asking the city to build drainage improvements — specifically, a storm sewer line and concrete paving — in their shared alleyway. Flooding in garages and residential properties along the alley has been a problem for years, and the drainage causes potholes and damage to the gravel alleyway, residents said.

At the council’s July 9 meeting, council members received a feasibility report that estimated the total cost for the improvements at $106,993. Around $75,000 of the project would be assessed to property owners.

Marshall Public Works Director Glenn Olson said alley improvements have historically been assessed differently than street projects. The cost of paving the alley would be 100% assessed to property owners, based on the frontage of their property. Storm sewer assessments would be based on square footage, he said.

A couple of property owners who spoke at the hearing said they didn’t support the way the project would be assessed. Properties with more frontage would end up with larger bills, regardless of whether they benefited from the alley improvements. Not all the affected properties have access to the alley, Veldhuisen said.

The majority of people who spoke up said they were in favor of the project, however. Homeowners said in spots where the flooding was the worst, they were using sump pumps and privately installed drainage tile to try and get rid of the water — but it wasn’t enough.

In addition to a storm sewer, having a concrete alley with a reverse crown might help direct the flow of stormwater, said Andy Dallmann. Paving the alley would also save the city the cost of manpower and repairs to the gravel, homeowners said.

“The potholes in the gravel are terrible,” said Rich Dorman.

Both homeowners and council members asked if the city’s policies on assessing alleyways could be updated, or if assessments on the proposed project could be adjusted.

“I feel we need to go back to the drawing board,” said council member Glenn Bayerkohler.

Olson said there will be a separate assessment hearing for the alley improvements where property owners could bring up their concerns. The city may need to take its alley assessment policies back to the Legislative and Ordinance Committee, or other city committees for review, Olson said. However, he said, “I don’t think this (hearing) is really the time” to talk about reworking the policies.

After the hearing, council members voted to order plans be prepared for the alley improvements.