RAYTOWN, Mo. — A handful of homeowners in Raytown are dealing with flooding in their backyards, even when it’s not raining. It’s becoming a daily problem for those residents who are now desperate for answers.
For nearly one month, several Raytown residents have been questioning where all of this water is coming from.
"I was wondering where it was coming from and I went back and traced it back to a pipe that is coming out of the church," said LaJeana Fagan, Raytown Resident.
Beacon Free Will Baptist Church is just up the street from the homes affected. The building sits on a natural spring. After speaking with the pastor of the church, Fagan said she was told that two sump pumps are releasing water daily.
"I was told that it pumps out of the church roughly 4 times a day," said Fagan.
Water sits in her backyard, regardless if it rains or not.
"Back here is just a muddy mess," said Fagan.
Water still flows through much of the backyards of these homes.
"A little bit more than halfway up my yard," said Fagan.
After reaching out to the church and City of Raytown for help, Fagan said no progress has been made.
"They're just ping-ponging the blame and I just don't see where that's going to benefit anybody," said Fagan.
Fagan said at this point, she can’t even enjoy her backyard. She said spending money on landscaping would be a waste, to then only see it get ruined by the water.
"It just sucks," said Fagan.
After reaching out to the city inspector, Andy Boyd, Fagan said she was given two options.
"I was told by the city I could build a berm or I could build a French drain but it would be on my dime," said Fagan.
Something Fagan feels is not her or her neighbors' responsibility.
"I shouldn't as a homeowner be the one liable to fix the problem that keeps occurring," said Fagan.
41 Action News reached out to the City of Raytown as well as the church for comment, our calls were not returned.
