Hunter's Creek village in dispute with Piney Point village over storm drain system

Piney Point officials admit to a secret underground installation that caused severe flooding Jan. 9 on Kemwood Drive in Hunter's Creek Village.

Workers discovered the installation as they worked to fix what was believed to be a malfunction in Hunter's Creek's multimillion-dollar drainage sewer system. Instead they found a brick wall built inside the 36-inch, 30-foot pipe, reducing its opening to only 8 inches, and causing the pipe to become clogged with debris.

As confirmed by a Piney Point engineer, the installation was ordered by Piney Point Mayor Peter Nemeth in October 2011 with the support of some Piney Point council members.

The incident stems from a 2002 dispute regarding drainage pipe size needed to complete the Soldier's Creek Relief Project, a joint venture between the villages.

Because of the blocked pipe, Hunter's Creek was required to bypass the clog by pumping water out of the storm sewer and back into the box culvert, an effort requiring the use of tax dollars.

Piney Point has refused to remove the brick wall until Hunter's Creek approves of Piney Point's drainage study to be filed with the Harris County Flood Control District, a study Hunter's Creek finds "misleading," according to a press release.

Information on the two villages can be found at www.cityofhunterscreek.com and www.cityofpineypoint.com.