Homeowners say drainage changed after May mudslides

TRYON — Residents along U.S. 176 outside of Tryon are pleading for the county’s help after experiencing major drainage problems on the roadway following the May 2018 mudslides. 

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and heard from residents Ronald Ward and Susan Tine during citizen comments. 

Ward said he owns a piece of property and also bought the land where a house was knocked off its foundation during the mudslides. The mudslides occurred on May 18, 2018, causing one death and months of cleanup. 

Ward said he has contacted the North Carolina Department of Transportation and employees have come to the property, but no one has changed the drainage problem.

Ward said the mudslides on the mountains changed the drainage there. He explained that when it rains there now there is 2 to 3 inches of water coming across the road and, if someone was standing there, they would fall into a gigantic hole and die. 

“We need help out there,” Ward said. “We are here, pleading to you that we need a little bit of help. Somebody needs to change the drainage.” 

Ward also said he is currently tearing down the house and now is the time to run new drainage under the road. 

“If there’s rain, it’s a very dangerous road right now,” he told commissioners. 

Tine said she is on the other side of the property Ward spoke of and said there is a video showing a massive amount of water. 

“It fills up like a lake,” Tine said. “It comes over the street and comes into the property next to mine.” 

Tine explained the issue as creating another body of water next to the river, saying she cannot stop the water flow. 

“It literally makes a river,” she said. “Like, I could put a boat in and put it into the river.”

County Manager Marche Pittman said ultimately, the answer has to come from the NCDOT because the road is a state highway. Pittman asked for their contact information and said he will put them in touch and do his best to help. 

County Commissioner Chair Tommy Melton said he and Pittman would visit Ward’s property Tuesday to see the problem themselves.