Geneseo Village Residents Raise Flooding Concerns

GENESEO — Oak Street residents are concerned that flooding issues are sinking the value of their properties.

Two property owners, Kurt Christiansen and Ellen Herzman, brought the issue to the Geneseo Village Board Monday night, stating their concerns and looking for guidance on their rights to remediate their properties.

“These issues are on the Village’s wish list but there are other projects that take precedence,” said Geneseo Village Mayor Richard Hatheway, “including fixing the water issue on lower lying Second Street first.”

Some residents believe that there is an antiquated underground water holding tank that the fire department used in years past. They were wondering if that could be repaired and used to detain water.

Residents asked the Board if they could have lower property tax assessments because the flooding issues had devalued their properties.

Mayor Hatheway said that Village property assessments are handled by the Town of Geneseo, not the Village, and referred residents to the Town Office for those questions.

Oak Street did see some flash flooding during a storm on May 26, 2016 along with Lima Road. The Oak Street flooding cleared within about half an hour.