As Rain Falls, BA Family's Yard Washes Away

A Broken Arrow family is watching their home wash away. It's not because of flood waters, but erosion.

For nearly a decade now, every time we've gotten rain, Paul Aelmore and his family have lost a piece of their backyard – now, about all that's left is this deck.

During the worst ice storm in Tulsa’s history – December 2007 – Aelmore lost a century-old tree in his backyard.

"Ever since then, we've slowly lost yard. Until now, the house is obviously -- there's a problem," he said.

It’s a problem that worsens with every inch of rain.

Aelmore said six feet of his property has slipped into the creek that snakes through Pittsburg Circle.

He said his neighbor is losing yard, too.

A Tulsa developer, American Land Development, owns and is supposed to maintain the creek.

Aelmore said he's called the company for help, but his calls are never answered. The company didn't return our calls, either.

Although the city doesn't own the creek, Aelmore believes the city should do something.

Broken Arrow City Manager, Michael Spurgeon said, "This is a private matter. The Aelmore's; it's private property, the creek is private, so the city's exploring the options."

Aelmore is offering to sell his house to the city for over $100,000.

"There has to be that balance of when we would spend public dollars on private property," Spurgeon said.

Spurgeon wishes American Land would step up.

"That would have been nice if they would have taken that responsibility. Unfortunately, they have not," he said.

Without the developer's involvement, Spurgeon and Aelmore agree that the city does carry responsibility to look into it.

Aelmore said, "I'm hoping that they'll do something to make this right because, obviously, the people that actually own the rights to this, American Land Development, isn't doing anything."

Aelmore hopes that, whether it's from the City of Broken Arrow or American Land Development, his family and his home can get some relief.