You Ask, Patch Answers: When Will Overlook Road Storm Drains Be Fixed?

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Los Gatos Patch reader Karyn Gramling commented and asked the following at the end of our Jan. 7 Patch Watch column about an overflowing storm manhole that was fixed on the Los Gatos Creek Trail: "There are also two uncovered storm drains on Overlook Road, between Wissahickon and Madrone [avenues]. They are full of muddy run-off and the grates are sitting on the road adjacent to them, which make them look just like the wet asphalt. To the horror of onlookers, one of my Golden Retrievers stepped into the drain while on a walk last week and went head first into the drain [and] was completely submerged. I was able to pull on her leash and right her then grab her scruff and pull her out, but I shudder to think that could have been a child from one of the Rancho de Los Gatos condos on the street right there. I have notified the LGPPW and am awaiting their response."

Los Gatos Parks and Public Works Director Todd Capurso said he knew the exact location of the storm drains referenced by Gramling and expressed shock at the news. He said if Gramling notified his department, his staff, most likely, is trying to fix the problem. "I will make sure that this gets checked out," Capurso said Friday. "This is not something that we want to wait on. We'll get something up there as soon as we can."

Capurso said if the storm drains' problems are as simple as their grates being off and on the side of the road, his staff will put them back in their place; however, if the grates are broken, they will have to mark the area as a hazard and repair them as soon as possible. "We're going to have to repair them, one way or the other. The question is, 'Can we fix them on the spot? We need to see what the situation is and get new grates ordered and replaced when they come in. They will get fixed one way or the other."