LYMAN, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - An Upstate mayor is responding to neighbors’ concerns about failing water lines.
The mayor of Lyman spoke exclusively to FOX Carolina, after our coverage exposed the ongoing issues in Lyman Mill Village.
Mayor Glenn Greer said, “There’s water that rolls up everywhere. There’s water that rolls up in different parts of town, but then it dissipates. It’s just like your home, there may be a puddle in the yard but it dissipates. What we have a problem with here is that a lot of water came in very, very fast and unfortunately, that is not something the town is responsible for.”
Residents of the village said the problems are much bigger than puddles. They blame the failing pipes below the streets.
They said they’ve been battling these issues for two decades, but things came to a head when a Meadow Street recently collapsed. SCDOT said a pipe burst after heavy rain.
After the collapse, the town hired an attorney to investigate the ownership of the village’s storm drainage lines.
At Monday night’s council meeting, the town said it’s not responsible for maintaining or fixing the storm drainage problems.
The town administrator said years ago, Pacific Mills gave the property to Spartanburg County, not the town. Some of the roads were later transferred to SCDOT.
Before the investigation, the town didn’t know which party was responsible for maintaining the lines, despite neighbors reporting issues over the past two decades.
Under state law, public money can’t be used to fix private property.
The town has hired an engineer to study the storm water issues and estimate how much repairs could cost.
The town is also looking at possible legal action, but would not disclose the parties involved.
Residents had hope for clarity, but questions remain. Will the problems be addressed, and who is responsible? We asked the mayor, but he said he could not give legal advice.
“They have to do what they think is correct. I can’t give them legal advice,” Greer said. “As the leader of this town I’m doing all that I can to help every citizen in this town every day. That is going to be up to them.”
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