BELL COUNTY, Texas — A Bell County property owner said she has been dealing with a serious flooding issue on her property for months, a problem that she claims has never happened before.
Mary Billeck has lived at her property off State Highway 317 in Belton for nearly five decades. Although it has a Belton address, she's technically in Temple city limits.
Billeck said over the decades, when it has rained, she did have a small stream that would form in her field and that would flow underneath her bridge. It was manageable and didn't create any disruption or damage. However, she said ever since May 2024, it hasn't done that.
"Now, we have the whole area flooded," Billeck said. "My road is flooded. My bridge is flooded. My whole field is flooded. My neighbor's field is flooded. It's so bad that when it rains hard, I can't get in and out of my house. The water was so rapid and deep that I couldn't go."
Billeck said this started after she realized there was work being done on a neighboring property, including drains put in that carry water directly toward her property.
"Very frustrating and very frustrating to try to get any help," Billeck added.
Billeck tried to get help and answers from many, including her county commissioner, the Bell County engineer, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, Texas Commission on Environmental Equality and the City of Temple Engineer's office.
EDITOR'S NOTE -- The list above originally included the Texas Water Conservation Association, but they weren't contacted. Instead it was the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.
Billeck said she hasn't heard from the City of Temple engineer's office for weeks, despite someone coming out to assess the property and taking information from her.
Billeck hasn't had much luck. She said she was told by many that she has talked to over the last couple weeks that the work completed nearby didn't even have a permit and that is also against the Texas water code.
Sec. 11.086 in the water code reads:
"OVERFLOW CAUSED BY DIVERSION OF WATER. (a) No person may divert or impound the natural flow of surface waters in this state, or permit a diversion or impounding by him to continue, in a manner that damages the property of another by the overflow of the water diverted or impounded."
"Everybody says this isn't right," Billeck explained. "Everybody says you'll have to get legal help, but if it's a code that the state has, looks like it should be enforceable without having to go through the expense of getting a lawyer."
Tired of being ignored, Billeck decided to see if a 6 Fix could do the job and she reached out the 6 News team.
"I want a solution where I don't get flooded, my neighbor on the south doesn't get flooded," Billeck added. "It seems like if there's a code, then enforce it."
On Wednesday, a spokesperson with the city of Temple provided the following statement to 6 News:
"The City acknowledges the resident's concerns about flooding and understands the frustration it has caused. A stop-work order has been issued, and City staff have personally communicated with the property owner to emphasize the importance of obtaining the required permit. If the violation is not corrected, the property owner may face a fine. The City will revisit the matter if the violation is not addressed."
Stay with 6 News as this story develops.
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