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PROPERTY DAMAGED Gold Hill residents say city dawdled as streets flooded Burst water main poured out water for parts of two days Comment By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM Updated Oct 17, 2015 at 11:58 AM By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM Updated Oct 17, 2015 at 11:58 AM » Social News GOLD HILL — A burst water main flooded an alley between Fourth and Fifth streets Thursday and into Friday, leaving one property owner with extensive damage and much of the town marveling at the volume of water pouring through town. Residents noted drinking water supplies running a murky brown after a city water main, which reportedly first began leaking in July, burst at about 2 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, a recording on a City Hall phone line informed those who called that repairs had been done during the night with water turned off for about an hour to let the town reservoir begin refilling. The recording by City Manager Rick Hohnbaum, advised residents to flush their water lines "a little bit before using water." Property owner Barbara Jones, who operated the Rose Cottage, a shop of vintage wares, in town for a decade before moving it to Medford, said repairs were not done until Friday morning. She said water flooded around her property until nearly 10:30 a.m. "I was hit the hardest," Jones said. "It didn't really hit anybody else. It filled up all around the house. It was up to my calves on both sides of the cottage and it came in through the bedroom closet on the north side of the building back on the corner. "It was going nonstop all night long and no one was out there. Nothing was done." Jones, who said public works crews arrived at about 6:30 a.m. to assess the damage, said she had reported dampness around the water line in July and told crews again last week about the apparent leak. Jones and Odd Fellows member Deb West both noted at least three pipes have burst in recent years, two of which caused damage that resulted in a lawsuit by the lodge in 2011 naming the city and Jackson County Housing Authority as defendants. The suit was eventually dropped with lodge members, citing mounting legal costs, receiving a small, undisclosed settlement. Jones, whose drinking water was still a brown color Friday evening, said she had been readying the property to be used as a rental. "I had it 90 percent ready to go, but I'm just really glad I didn't have anybody in there yet," she said. Calls and messages to city officials, including Mayor Jan Fish and Hohnbaum, were not returned. Citizens' Involvement Committee member Lisa Tognoli, who facilitates a group Facebook page, said she received e-mails from Hohnbaum during the ordeal. One notice posted on the page at about 6 p.m. Thursday stated, "Both city crews and outside contractors have attempted to limit the flow of the water without success. At this time, the plan is to wait until morning and shut off the water in order to repair the water main. We are planning to shut off the water for Gold Hill at 7:15 a.m. for about 30 minutes." West, who said the Odd Fellows just recently started tearing out rotting wood from previous flooding, said she took photos to prove the issue was not resolved Thursday night. "I drove over at 6 a.m. and you could still hear the water gushing, twice as loud by this point," West said. "I just spent the whole summer drying this building out." "If they wanted to let the water run all night and waste money, then whatever, but to let Barbara's house get flooded all night is beyond the pale." West said she and Jones planned to be at Monday's 6 p.m. City Council meeting to voice their concerns. Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected]. By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 17, 2015 at 11:54 AM Updated Oct 17, 2015 at 11:58 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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