The devastating June 9-10 storm left businesses across Stonewall facing extensive cleanup and costly repairs, but for Adrenaline Fitness owner Bob Nolin, the flooding also renewed concerns he says he has been raising with the Town of Stonewall for years about drainage in the community’s industrial park.
Nolin estimates the flooding caused approximately $249,000 in damage to fitness equipment and building contents after up to 16 inches of water entered his building during the record-breaking rainfall event.
While acknowledging the storm was unprecedented, Nolin believes longstanding drainage issues contributed to the severity of the flooding at his property on Dolomite Avenue.
“Water has been a concern every spring with the snow melt,” said Nolin, who has owned the building for about 10 years. “A culvert needs to be installed on the west corner of Dolomite Avenue to correct this problem.”
According to Nolin, he has repeatedly raised the issue with the town’s works and operations department over the past decade.
He said the situation escalated rapidly on June 10. When he checked the property at 5 a.m., water was beginning to accumulate in the parking lot. By 8 a.m., he said the lot was full, and by 10 a.m. water had risen several inches up the building’s doors.
“By 11:30 the entire building had a foot of water inside,” he said, adding the water eventually reached about 16 inches in some areas of the building.
Nolin rented two three-inch pumps in an effort to remove water from the parking lot, a process he said took approximately 11 hours.
He believes the existing drainage system was overwhelmed because water had to flow around the building before reaching roadside ditches and eventually crossing into the cemetery.
“The ditches could not handle the amount of water,” he said.
The flooding forced Adrenaline Fitness to shut down, while businesses renting space in the building were also affected.
“Not only are we losing revenue, but this money to restore the building comes out of pocket,” Nolin said. “Our business has been totally shut down, as well as our renters’ businesses.”
He said the recovery has required roughly 240 labour hours to remove damaged drywall, insulation and other building materials, while the total cost of repairs continues to grow as invoices arrive.
Although the building carries water damage insurance, Nolin said the losses were not covered because they resulted from overland flooding.
“It has affected the gym, the office renters and me, the building owner, immensely,” he said.
Nolin said he has met with Mayor Sandra Smith, Chief Administrative Officer Wally Melnyk, emergency management officials and public works staff since the flooding.
“I expect the water drainage problem to be corrected, but I’m not holding my breath,” he said.
The Tribune contacted the Town of Stonewall with questions about the June flooding, previous drainage concerns raised by Nolin, the design of drainage infrastructure in the industrial park and whether improvements are being considered.
In an email response, Melnyk said the town would not comment.
“Unfortunately the Town of Stonewall is unable to respond to your request for comment on this story,” Melnyk wrote. “Mr. Nolin has indicated he is considering suing the Town and as such, we will not be commenting on a story that could be subject to legal action.”
The June 9-10 storm produced record rainfall across Stonewall, overwhelming drainage systems throughout the community and causing widespread flooding to homes, businesses and public infrastructure. The Town of Stonewall, along with the RM of Rockwood and RM of Woodlands, declared local states of emergency in response to the event.
