Deterioration of Healy’s dam worries homeowners
by Larry S. Chowning
The Middlesex County Board of Supervisors opted on April 20 not to get involved with a homeowner’s request regarding the water level at Healy’s Millpond on Stormont Road.
Mary Ann Willis, who owns land on the pond, asked supervisors if they would endorse a policy to lower the water level of the pond to hopefully slow deterioration of the pond dam and minimize environmental damage downstream if the dam were to break.
Willis indicated some homeowners wanted to lower the water level in the pond, while others wanted to keep the water at the current level.
County attorney Mike Soberick encouraged supervisors not to take sides in what he perceives as a private matter. He indicated that if supervisors want to endorse a policy of general upkeep of the dam, then that would be appropriate.
“I endorse the general upkeep of all dams,” said supervisor Carlton Revere.
In February 2006, VDOT officials ruled that the dam at Healy’s Millpond was unsafe, and it closed the portion of Stormont Road that used the dam as a roadbed.
VDOT claims it does not own the dam and has no obligation to fix it.
Since 2006, cracks in the dam have gotten larger and landowners along the pond fear the dam is going to break, leaving residents with a giant mud hole.
Soberick reminded supervisors that the level of the water is a private matter and not an issue on which supervisors should take a position.
Jamaica District supervisor Wayne Jessie encouraged landowners on the pond to get together and pool their resources to find a way to fix the dam. “It (dam) is going to go,” said Jessie. “It’s just a matter of when.”
Supervisors have been asked by VDOT officials to either abandon the road or discontinue it. If the road is abandoned, it will mean that rights-of-way will go to the adjacent landowners. If the road is discontinued, the right-of-way stays intact with the county.
Board chairman Jack Miller said he felt the board should follow the advice of their county attorney and not act on the request.
“It’s not our business, but I’m glad to see people are willing to take a stand on this matter,” said Revere.
Supervisor Fred Crittenden encouraged the landowners at the meeting to share information on the dam with the board. “We don’t want to discourage you from trying to make the situation better,” he said.
No action was taken on the matter.
