Hopewell Office of Stormwater Management

07/10/2023

I want to announce that today is my last day with the City of Hopewell as the Stormwater Program Manager. It is a bittersweet departure, but I must prioritize my health and peace of mind. It has been an honor and pleasure serving the citizens of Hopewell over these past two years. I have met some wonderful people in this City and will always cherish their kindness. It has also been an honor to run the best Stormwater Team in Virginia, and I will truly miss them, along with many great coworkers I call friends. I wish the City of Hopewell the best and a brighter future. Even though things look dark and gloomy, great people in this City will play an intricate role in making it brighter. Thank you citizens of Hopewell for allowing me to serve you these two years as the Stormwater Program Manager.

Yours Truly,
Stephen Edwards

05/03/2023

The Office of Stormwater Management received a complaint about a large sinkhole on a property, located on Paul Karnes Dr., where the utility boxes were either sinking into the hole or had already sunk into the hole. When investigated by the Stormwater Team, it was determined that the 48" concrete pipe had a large hole on the bottom as well as separated joints, causing the earth to wash into the pipe, creating the sinkhole. Due to the conflict with all the utilities, the Stormwater Team had to dig the four-foot depth hole by hand and support the utility boxes before making the necessary repairs. Once the Stormwater Team reached the top of the concrete pipe, they had to cut a section out of the top of the pipe to enter to make the repairs.

03/15/2023

The Stormwater Team noticed a sinkhole forming on Appomattox Street near Monroe Street. When cameraing the storm sewer system, it was discovered that about 20 feet or so of the concrete pipe had collapsed and was washing the road material into the system, causing the sinkhole. Therefore, the Stormwater Team had to make emergency repairs to the system. Unfortunately, the City's infrastructure is old, so collapsing pipes can happen anytime. That is why our team does its best to take a proactive approach to fix the City's stormwater conveyances. For drainage concerns, contact the Office of Stormwater Management at (804) 541-2295.

03/10/2023

We are looking for a Stormwater Management Engineer for our team. This is a GIS position.

The City of Hopewell is now accepting applications for the following position(s):

• Stormwater Management Engineer_Public Works

To view/print the announcement(s) in full and/or to apply, please visit https://www.hopewellva.gov/204/Employment-Opportunities

03/08/2023

The Stormwater Team will be repairing a collapsed stormwater pipe on Appomattox Street on Monday, March 13th. - 14th. See the below Media Release. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Stormwater Management at (804) 541-2295 et. 618.

03/01/2023

The Stormwater Maintenance Team had an emergency repair at Virginia Street and Blackstone Ave. intersection. A sinkhole and pavement settling had developed within the intersection. Upon investigation, it was discovered that three stormwater pipes were connected to an underground concrete junction box instead of a manhole. Two pipes had separated from the junction box, causing pavement material to wash away into the storm system, which caused the sinkholes and settling. Therefore, the Stormwater Maintenance Team had to dig up the intersection, fix the pipes, and build a manhole. Since this City's infrastructure is old, situations such as this seem to be a common problem. Although our staff has done a great job of mapping the system into GIS, there are still numerous unknowns within the stormwater conveyances, that are only discovered when issues arise.

02/15/2023

Columbia Gas was installing the gas main along Hopewell Street when they came across a concrete slab covering a buried manhole at the intersection of Hopewell Street and City Point. Since the slab was broken up and removed due to the gas main, the Stormwater team will have to reconstruct a new top of the manhole before the area can be paved. This is an example of a City with old infrastructure; you never know what is underground.

01/26/2023

Stormwater Team Member Spotlight:

Stephen Edwards, Stormwater Program Manager

- BS. Degree in Environmental Management with a minor in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University

- Certified Stormwater Inspector through the National Stormwater Center

- Certificated as a Qualified Preparer of Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans through StormwaterOne

-Certificated as a Qualified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater through StormwaterOne

-Certified as a Duel Combined (SWM & ESC) Administrator through the VaDEQ State Water Control Board

- 24 yrs. experience in the civil engineering and environmental fields

Stephen's primary role is to perform professional and administrative work administering the City’s Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) and Stormwater Management (SWM) programs, MS4 Permit Program, Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan, the City’s Stormwater Utility Fee program, preparing and submitting budgetary, technical, personnel, and statistical reports, addressing drainage and environmental-related complaints, infrastructure maintenance, and related work as apparent or assigned.

01/24/2023

Stormwater Team Member Spotlight:

Charles Banton, Jr., Sr. Stormwater Maintenance Specialist

- CDL w/Tanker Certification

- Certified for Confined Space Entry

- Certified VDOT Flagger

- Over 20 yrs. experience with stormwater

Charles is the primary heavy equipment operator. When he is not grading ditches or cleaning out channels, he is inside storm sewer conveyances making the necessary repairs. Charles has been with the City for over 20 years, so he has the most knowledge on the condition of the City's storm sewer infrastructure.

01/23/2023

Stormwater Team Member Spotlight:

Victor Mazzei, Stormwater Maintenance Crew Leader

- CDL w/Tanker Certification

- Certified for Confined Space Entry

- Certified VDOT Flagger

- 6 1/2 yrs. experience with stormwater

Vic coordinates with the Stormwater Utility Engineer every morning for what maintenance work needs to be addressed. Vic is responsible for providing daily logs of completed work, making repairs to stormwater infrastructure, operations of heavy equipment, and other duties as assigned.

01/20/2023

Stormwater Team Member Spotlight:

John Schmidt, Stormwater MS4 Coordinator

- B.S. Degree in Energy Land Management from West Virginia University

- Certified ESC & SWM Inspector through the VaDEQ State Water Control Board

- 3 1/2 yrs. experience in stormwater management and renewable energy

John is responsible for site inspections, enforcement, public outreach and education, ESC plan review, land-disturbance permitting, and submitting monthly land disturbance reports to the Va DEQ

01/18/2023

Stormwater Team Member Spotlight:

John DeGroot, Stormwater Utility Engineer

- B.S. Degree in Geospatial Science w/ concentration in Geoinformatics from Radford University

- Certified in Confined Space Entry

- Certified ESC & SWM Inspector through the VaDEQ State Water Control Board

- 6 1/2 yrs. experience in stormwater management

John is responsible for locating and mapping the City's stormwater infrastructure using GIS, dry weather outfall inspections, helping with stormwater infrastructure repairs, and overseeing the SW utility fees.