HEIDENHEIMER, Texas — Every time it rains, it's a headache for the congregation at House of Hope Outreach in Heidenheimer.
Church pastor Mike Baggerly told 6 News the ditches in front of their church building flood when it rains and reach up to two inches high.
"This has gone on for years and just hasn't been maintained at all," Baggerly explained. "Now we're just holding on to water that we just can't get rid of."
While the church only arrived in Heidenheimer five years ago, Baggerly said his neighbors told him this issue has been prevalent in this area for over 15 years. He also mentioned the dangers of having sitting water near his church building and the fear he has for his congregation.
"We see snakes quite a bit feasting on the crawdads and other things, which is also another safety issue if a child is out here playing," Baggerly added.
Twice a year since the church has been at their location, Baggerly said he has called the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to address his concern. While they have come out to look at it, no actual fix has come of it.
"They just tell me they're going to return my phone calls and I never get a phone call returned back to me," Baggerly added. "We just feel unheard."
6 News reached out to TxDOT spokesperson Jake Smith to ask about this issue. Here is Smith's response:
'This area along BUS 190 is very flat with little opportunity to drain properly and has been regraded by TxDOT in the past. Due to sediment build-up over time, water is holding as a result. TxDOT will investigate this area further and address it by the end of the year, field conditions permitting.' - Smith
Baggerly hopes a fix happens. If not, he says he and his congregation will do the job themselves.
"Renting the equipment ourselves or hiring out so that we can maintain it," Baggerly added. "I know that's not what we're supposed to do because that is actually owned by the state, they have that easement. But something has to be done."