Weddington, N.C. (WBTV) -
Local leaders in Union County reached a compromise late Monday night in years-long fight over several popular athletic fields.
The county's board of commissioners along with Weddington Town Council members voted for a resolution they believe will resolve flooding concerns near Wesley Chapel Wedding Athletic Association (WCWA) athletic fields.
Dozens turned out for the joint meeting held in the Weddington High School Auditorium.
On one side there are homeowners like Michael Corrigan who told local leaders his backyard floods every time there is a heavy rain.
That's my home," he implored. "That's where I live.
Corrigan lives behind the WCWA fields and wants the flooding problem fixed.
"It could have taken 200 years for that flood line to get up to my house," he said. "As it stands right now as I walk out my back door, it's right there." @
On the other side of the years-long debate, are supporters of the WCWA fields.
Tom Traub, whose two sons play Little League at the fields, said he sympathizes with the homeowners but point to all children who have benefited from them.
"There's a lot of life lessons you kind of learn out on the ball field," said Traub. "It's a kind of formative time for these kids."
The fight over what to do about the flooding problem goes back years.
In fact FEMA stepped in a few years back after county leaders discovered its illegal to use backfill on a flood plain.
But the resolution passed, which involves moving some of the back fill but not all of it, doesn't sit well with Joe Tolan, another homeowner.
"I want to see our property protected," he said. "I don't want to have it washed away or where it's not usable for days."
The resolution now have to be approved by FEMA before the county can move forward with making any improvements.
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