EDWARDSVILLE — An Edwardsville couple claims dirt and construction debris coming from property owned by the city during construction of a park has caused flooding and other damage to their adjoining property.
Janet Long and John Long filed a complaint Feb. 2 in the Madison County Circuit Court against the City of Edwardsville.
According to their complaint, the Longs own more than 46 acres of property on Long Branch Drive in Edwardsville, which is next to a parcel of land owned by the city. The plaintiffs allege that the City of Edwardsville has failed to abide by guidelines under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System during its construction of a city park that began in February 2019.
Specifically, the Longs claim Edwardsville removed trees and shrubs from the plaintiffs' property without their permission, placed "riprap" and gravel on their property without permission and allowed discharge from a storm water basin to accumulate dirt and sediment into the pond and lake on their property.
The Longs claim they have suffered damages including dead trees on their property due to them sitting in standing water, backups in their pipes, access to one side of their property being washed away and much of their property being unusable due to flood water remaining in the area for much of the year.
The plaintiffs seek monetary and all other just relief. They are represented by Zachary Shelton of Goldenberg Heller & Antognoli PC in Edwardsville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number 21-L-000140