Sherry GrosHighland Park • 1 day ago
Dust Bowl Dams -Optimist lake- Dam of Historical Significance. Completed in 1937 Optimist Lake Dam was a Dust Bowl era Dam Built by a Public Works crew of that era. Optimist has a Park attached to the dam because that was the part of the government deal and requirements to get the dam built by the government. This build was a contract with the Federal Government. It was built to control soil erosion. It is not private because it fits the criteria for navigable in the US Code of Federal Regulations. Below is a picture of the dust bowl era dam being constructed and the men who constructed it. You have an earthen embankment dam laid with rebar then covered in cement. Much of the rebar is exposed on Optimist Dam. This Dam was a government project to mitigate soil erosion and protect the land and roads beneatht the wash at the time. We have a LOT more water shedding into the area today almost 100 years later. This Lake is not private and the waters belong to the US Government. This is a dam of historical significance to this area and the United States of America as a symbol of resilience and resolve to rebuild and preserve our Country. ALABAMA SAVE THIS DAM!Posted in General to 36 neighborhoods
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Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesIf you want to see that original dam actually go into the “basin” and you’ll see the concrete that made that dam. The dam has been rebuilt several times since then, the dam and the parks do belong to the community association not the federal government. Not sure of your end game here. Seems like you are now trying to make our lake and parks public property. Do not believe that anyone in the community wants that. If I’m wrong please let me know. I do agree with you that there is a lot more runoff now than there was even as late as the early 2000’s. But it Appears to me that you are more concerned with winning than what is best for our community. Instead of suing the people who have been working to maintain our lake you should focus on the people who have caused the additional runoff into our property resulting in wear and tear on the dam and filling in our lake.1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkEd, why haven’t you “focused” on the people who are responsible?1 day agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkI am most concerned with appropriately conserving this dam and this portion of the Dog River Watershed. I blocked you in court to stop yoiu from hydro jacking this frail historic monument that comes from a significant time in American History of which its collapse could be only moments away. The “park” is under different jurisdiction than the “waters”(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
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Sharon Williams • Willow PointeIt very well could be moments away.. why not allow it to be “patched ” until your cavalry arrives to save it. At least the lake wildlife would be spared. Your way is a losing situation for all involved…..1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkSharon Williams My way is the most logical way. Because the “patches” could do more harm than good. Because no one can know exactly WHAT IS being done without proper oversight. The existence of the dam is dependent on Due process.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
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Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesWe’ll I can tell you preventing us from repairing it is not going to preserve it. If we do not maintain it, we will loose it.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
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Sharon Williams • Willow PointeEd Williams we are losing it before our eyes right now……. so sad to have such a vindictive attitude…..1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkSharon Williams Working for knowledgeable oversight and report is not the definition of vindictive.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkEd Williams RE: “preventing us from repairing…” The “patching” process now is just guessing. We must do better than that.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Sharon Williams • Willow PointeSherry Gros killing the inhabitants of our lake and watching it drain dry to make your point is indeed vindictive and short sighted. If the lake dries up and all the wildlife is killed, yes, you have won because you didn’t allow repairs. Your “fragile monument” is going to have to be completely rebuilt and you can consider yourself the reason for the death of the wildlife and ecosystem you claim to want to preserve.1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkI’m the one stopping the draining. Has a civil engineer shared blueprints with you that tells you what the problems are with the damworks and how to resolve them? If so you should share. No one is going to stop the dam from falling over or breaching again with his cement patch. We need teh Army Corps, engineers, and owner involved repair. The importance of the owner being established (as I have done) is so owner can legally sign to receive grant money and to authorize work to be done on the dam. As long as anyone else’s crew pretends to be owners too then that’s where the problem lies. NOW we recently have the added bonus of 3 acres of the lake and 12% of the dam being “quit claimed” to Spring Lake after it had been sold to HPca even though the “quitcalimer” never owned the land. So we have some logistics that turn people off from wanting to get involved. BUT the Federal Government cannot abandon it’s authority. So I will press on,(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkThis is what I would like to see done: Secure the area under the Army Corps of Engineers Establish (prove) Ownership Quiet title. Repair the dam.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
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Sharon Williams • Willow PointeSherry Gros you are delusional.1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Arthur Gros • Highland ParkSharon Williams I’m glad I never touched the dam.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
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Sharon Williams • Willow PointeArthur Gros 👍23 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros that’s part of the problem you have never lifted a hand to fix the dam. Just second guess and critique those who have.21 hr agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkI wonder if the shoreline residents would have a better class action against you or me?21 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros from what I hear they are already planning one against you21 hr agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkEd Williams they have a better chance against your hoa. You have board member insurance your members have already paid for. aka “lake insurance”(edited)8hLikeReplyShare
William Kane • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros I live on a property located on the shoreline. I fish the lake on a regular basis. Eddie and them are trying to find a way to fix the problem and I do not see why anyone needs a class action suit. The natural inhabitants of the lake are the ones currently suffering due to this being dragged on. As a resident I would like clarification from you as to why you feel it’s your place to sue anyone? And what is your law suit doing for the inhabitants of the lake currently? And for the residents that live on the shoreline of the lake that are currently stuck staring at a muddy lakebed when they’re in their backyards. I can tell you that your actions have caused most of the fish to die off. Do you understand the cost involved with restocking the lake once it is fixed? You’re looking at $1.50-$3.50 per 3” large mouth bass, $.60 per red ear bream. Etc. my point is we had a well stocked lake that myself and my children enjoyed fishing ( Catch and Release) and now that is done with for the near future. This I have a problem with. My kids are suffering and considering it’s their summer break and I work all day so I can’t take them anywhere else to fish, it’s directly effecting their summer vacation in a negative way. So again I ask what is your law suit doing for the residents of the neighborhoods and what do you truly have gain by continuing to press the issue. If I am correct you do not even have a water front property so you’re not directly being effected by the lack of fixing the issue.(edited)59mLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkMr. Kane: I have not touched this dam. If the Wallace Tunnel were leaking it would not be “Eddie and Them’s” place to go an fix it. The leaking of the Wallace Tunnel could very well affect you as much as the leaking of this dam. It is a matter of jurisdiction. And it is because of Eddie and them that qualified people have not decended upon this dam and solved a problem that has existed long before I arrived here. You are very misguided in your assumptions as to whom is the cause of this problem. It is not your property I would advise you do not trespass. Shoreling residents do not have the means to fix this problem, had they why haven’t they done it by now? I only became involved becasue of the floundering in their efforts and I wanted to make an effort to keep the lake from turning into a ditch. Did the landowner Give you permission to attend the problem on the dam? Your complaint needs be lodged with the HOA liability insurance because it is the HOA that has commandeered teh situation and have been the ones hands on mismanaging it. In my highland Park covenants to my land it states I have free access to the park and lake. It also states highland Park residents are elegible to become members of the nonprofit members corporation who holds the deed to the park, dam, lake, spillway. I warned the defendants attorneys against opening the standpipe. I told them it was an engineering decision that I believed it would create a venturi effect and drag the water through the breach harder and faster. I told the defendant’s to put the cover back over the top of hole. They refused and insisted on draining the lake and so begged the judge. As far as I’m concerned somebody sabotaged that lake and now the hole is so big that it can’t be covered. So, here I am. And BTW Mr Kane, I took $1.000.00 out of my household budget last year to test the water during the SWIM season through Mobile Baykeeper. Not one from any of your subdivision who supposedly care about this water donated a penny for testing so that your children can safely play in the water. So do not expect me to be moved by your self righteous indignation and disengenuous puffery.(edited)20mLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkExposed Rebar June 29, 2021. You can see the grid pattern of rebar exposed all along the top of the spillway.
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Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesThat’s one section on the oldest part of the spillway. When is your Engineer coming to evaluate?1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sharon Williams • Willow PointeApparently long after the lake is dry and all the fish are dead…..1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkCalvary will come. Will they come in time.1 day agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkOn my way home from church just now we drove by the lake. It seems to be holding steady at 11:52 am after the judge’s order on Friday 7/2/2021 to lower it to the level of the leak. It’s at the same level it was last night. Looks good. So, it’s not draining out from the “decapping” of the old standpipe or “the hole” its just holding at the level of the “leak”.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesTaken less than an hour ago. You be the judge.by the way, no old stand pipe, no cap it’s a hole.(edited)
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkEd Williams I’m really sorry to see this. Did you lower the level of the lake to below the leak as you were directed by the court?(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkOne of the worse case scenarios we discussed after the judge made his decision was that when you open the standpipe a venturi effect would be caused and create a suction greater than gravity through the hole making for a faster collapse. So that was one possibility my team discussed. Yeah I’m really sorry to see this.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkThanks for the picture. My guess is the face of the dam will now wash out. if the water is washing around the pipe instead of through the pipe the whole dam will collapse. I’m sure you’ve talked to your friends at the county? And they will get their ditch? That is the hole you fed your pipes and sunk your sakrete in 2015 and 2019 as I recall. I guess you don’t remember me being there on the ground in 2015 and you don’t remeber me being involved in the discussions of 2016, 17, 18.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros we are doing exactly what the judge said we could.1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkEd Williams with no way of veryifying what you actually did, as usual.(edited)21hLikeReplyShare
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Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesExactly your guess,!1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland Parka plumber could have guessed this could happen(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesDidn’t know you were a plumber as well1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkResult will be: lake becomes a drainage ditch With a tremendous amount of water coming in from this watershed punching through what was the head of the lake at milkhouse creek where years of silt has been deposited this silt will be washed into the marsh between pine run and cody rd killing the marsh and filling it in. this marsh is the last buffer that has the ability to absorb the watershed. From that point on Cody Rd will wash over with each rainstorm. Unless you’ve talked with your friends at county and they have some saving plan in place? I find this breach suspicious timing. I can’t wait to see the expeditious response from the municipalities. Where they get their money to address the issue and how they address it and how quickly they are able to respond.(edited)1dLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesYou find everything suspicious. Another ridiculous conspiracy theory. If it wasn’t for your interference we wouldn’t be in the position we are now.1 day agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland Parkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huJJA8vwnCY1 day agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland Parknew breach from around the 2019 patch on the left side if you are facing the dam 5:45pm(edited)0:1321hLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland Parkright side 2021 breach hole 5:45pm(edited)0:2921hLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland Parkhole doubled in size from this morning.
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Sherry Gros • Highland Parkwhere our waters cross Cody Rd. at SCC. Heavy siltation, plant die-off. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.(edited)0:5221hLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkImportant: read page 2 “Therefore it is resolved…” There is case law in the state of Alabama that says, a municipality cannot abandon an area where there is a duty to care. In other words if they build a drainage system and the people who live around it rely on the municipality to maintain it then the municipality has a duty to maintain it. They cannot abandon it. So, this is what the county has done here. They have directed their development drainage into Optimist and then turned their back on the maintenance of that drainage. And have decided, as they have told Ed Williams, “this should be a ditch” “We can’t help you the lake is private” and “you’re an hoa we don’t have any responsibility in your area” Please use the laws and established case law to make the County responsible where they have a “duty to care” You can’t just direct all city and county waters to the Dog River Watershed reservoir and abandon it. Below is one piece of documentation where the county has resolved to use the reservoir as “area drainage”(edited)
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkCALL TO ACTION: Contact ADEM. Tell them stormwater is tearing down the Dog River Watershed reservoir dam at Optimist Lake. Look where Gov’t Street Rd went to the lake in 1971. You all know where Gov’t Street Rd deadends in front of SpringLake Sudivision. The rest of that road is sunk beneath the lake and used for area drainage. Also, the detention pond across Cody Rd always runs into the lake is connected to that old road bed system. All city and county drainage to this Dog River Watershed Reservoir called Optimist Lake is continually being inundated with City and County stormwater runoff. I’ve called Mr. Dueitt, our commissioner, on numerous ocassions they routed me the county Lawyer Linda Baker. I contacted Jerry Carl’s office he referred me to Mr. Dueitt. I believe as long as the municipalities keep 300 area stakeholders in Highland Park Subdivision, Spring Lake Subdivision, and Lakeview West Subdivision fighting amongst themselves, and looking for a scapegoat then they will win and be able to turn Optimist Lake into the ditch they so desire. Recognize who is actually tearing down your Dog River Watershed reservoir — it’s the municipalities! We can come together move as a force of 300 strong against the County to save this part of the dog river watershed or we can keep tearing at each other and let them win. Whose side are you on? ACTION: Contact ADEM. Tell them stormwater is tearing down the Dog River Watershed reservoir dam at Optimist Lake.(edited)
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Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesFirst step would be for you to drop the lawsuit, recognize that we are one association, that none of us are part of any conspiracy and work with us to maintain the dam. Then we can discuss going after the ones responsible for the excess storm water and the damage it is causing. That was our plan, until all this mess started after our repair in 2019.(edited)4hLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkNone of what you say precludes an individual from sending a complaint to ADEM on behalf the Optimist Lake reservoir. Again I ask you Who are you working for?(edited)4hLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros the community3 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Arthur Gros • Highland ParkThe first step is for you to stand down and quit imposing an illegal HOA upon the residents of Highland Park. The second step is for you to realize that this issue needs to remain removed, set apart, and no longer intermingled with effort towards the preservation and restoration of both Lake Optimist reservoir and the dam. 3. It should be obvious to all who have looked into these matters that while the stated properties were at one time individually owned with a public road running through them as time proceeded the sections of that road which was at the time Old Government was in fact vacated by the county. After that point an earthen berm was erected whether this was private or public is unclear. What is clear is that at some point after this this earthen berm was greatly enhanced and enlarged creating a dam. that dam was overlaid with a tremendous amount of rebar and concrete in an amount exceeding anything a private entity would be able to afford. This was in fact a public work. Most likely built under the Roosevelts Administration’s WPA. If it was in fact built by the federal government then it would have been put in trust to somebody that somebody would not be a private individual or entity but would most likely be under state city or county jurisdiction. Therefore That trustee is responsible for that dam and their feet needs ot be held to the fire. 4. Quit fleecing the residents of this area to maintain that which is far beyond our scope or jurisdiction. I am writing this statement to clarify my position and have no intention of debating this any further.3 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry-you forgot to change back to your own account again before posting this. If you don’t won’t to debate it great. Quit posting.3 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkMy husband is smarter than me. I have too much respect for him to even try to write down or pretend to know what is on his mind. ED why don’t you mobilize your troops to write a complaint to ADEM about stormwater runoff knocking down the dam and destroying the buffer zone between milkhouse Creek and the wetlands below?(edited)3hLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros because I’m in the middle of a lawsuit that prevents us individually as well as a association.2 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkBut you can fundraise and have HOA meetings? That makes no sense. Send a complaint to ADEM. Tell them the stormwater runoff is tearing down the dam off the Optimist Lake Reservoir on the Dog River Watershed.(edited)2hLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros haven’t had any meetings or fundraisers at this point. What makes no sense is your lawsuit.2 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkOn my desk is no less than 5 flyers plucked off my mailbox over two years since I started the lawsuit calling “meetings to discuss the lawsuit”, you have marched, social media blasted, campaigned, placed signs, petitioned the judge on behalf, and generally clamored daily regarding this issue. If you have been restrained by your lawyers then at least mobilize your followers and cheerleaders to write to ADEM. For the Dog River Watershed, and our lake which is the reservoir that protects the wetlands and the wildlife.(edited)2hLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros Give it up!2 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkYou wish2 hr agoLikeReplyShare
Ed Williams • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros believe I can safely speak for the entire community in saying we all do!(edited)2hLikeReplyShare
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Sharon Williams • Willow PointeThis pissing contest needs to end….drop the lawsuit so that whoever can and whoever will may hopefully salvage what is left of the lake……..1 hr agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkWhile you’re waiting for that to happen please fill out a complaint to ADEM Sharon. Tell tehm stormwater is coming in and tearing down the dam to the Optimist Lake Reservoir in the Dog River Watershed that acts as a shockabsorber for the wetlands and wildlife. http://app.adem.alabama.gov/complaints/submission.aspx1 hr agoLikeReplyShare
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William Kane • Lakeview West EstatesSherry Gros pardon me but the Wallace tunnel is not what’s being discussed here. It’s the lake that I live on. I am asking you for clarification on how what you’re doing in the court system is helping. And I have all the rights from the home owner to speak on the issue considering I am buying the property. So before you misspeak again make sure you know all of the facts. Now again I am asking you directly for clarification on how you personally suing Eddie and three other people whom live in or own property in the neighborhood is helping to resolve the issue surrounding the damn. So please clearly without bringing up issues that have nothing to do with the conversation at hand to muddy the waters answer my simple question. Thanks.25 min agoLikeReplyShare
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Sherry Gros • Highland ParkWe know who opened the standpipe. Who removed this cover? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huJJA8vwnCY11 min agoLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkMr Kane I would advise you go read the lawsuit.(edited)8mLikeReplyShare
Sherry Gros • Highland ParkYou see Mr Kane, “Eddie and Them” forget or are not aware that I was on the ground at the 2015 dumping of 250 bags of sakrete into that hole. I was at the online meetings. I have the conversations with the actual plans…. from 2015 to 2019. So, I know what is going on here and so do many other neighbors. Teh square hole that is cut at the concrete buttress was covered ever since and the dam has limped along. Why and who uncovered that square hole and for what reason except to cause chaos and derail the whole judicial process.Just nowLikeReplyShare
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