THOMASVILLE — After Monday rain, City of Thomasville officials visited a neighborhood where residents say silt-filled stormwater runoff from apartment complex construction travels into their yards.

On Monday, runoff went into a retention pond at the construction site off Smith Avenue, Assistant City Manager/City Engineer Jerry Pionessa said during a city council workshop Monday night.

Pionessa said runoff from a nearby assisted living facility going onto Rachel Lane property before Market Station apartment construction began continues to flow into the neighborhood.

In response Mayor Greg Hobbs’ question, Pionessa said the city has no liability with water coming from the assisted living facility.

“What was done at Market Station is working well,” Pionessa told council members.

Runoff from the construction site has stopped, but damage has been done, Morgan Bailey, Rachel Lane resident and neighborhood spokesman, said.

No one in city government wants to take responsibility for the situation, Bailey said. 

“It’s just a blame game,” she added.

Bailey said water on her property was clear Monday, but her lawn is saturated.

“I would like to say this: There are a lot of people in Thomasville who hate you,” Bailey told council members.

People with complaints want to “piggyback” on Rachel Lane’s situation, Bailey said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820