Joanna Di Maria, owner of the Manor House Shops in Manahawkin, appeared before the Stafford Township mayor and council at the meeting of May 21 to complain about the longstanding problem of flooding on Route 9 along the frontage and in the driveway of her retail business. The water issue has been going on for many years, she told them, and it affects her business.

Five years ago when she bought the business, she published a plea for help or advice on a local community news site, calling the…