Ross outlines $300K in storm drain repairs

Ross plans to tackle $300,000 worth of storm drain projects in the next five to 10 years.

The Town Council voted unanimously this month to approve a storm drain master plan, which assessed the condition of 3 miles of pipes, manholes and gutters. The plan also identified another $138,000 of improvements needed for drainage infrastructure on private property.

“The culverts that cross privately maintained roadways are privately maintained storm drains,” Richard Simonitch, public works director, told the council at its meeting on July 13. Simonitch said the town will not fund 4 miles of privately maintained pipes.

Councilmember Julie McMillan said she would like the town to communicate that to residents. Simonitch said he would incorporate a summary in the town’s newsletter.

Simonitch said that about four years ago when the town staff was preparing capital improvement budgets he realized Ross lacked a comprehensive storm drain master plan.

However, the town had set itself up to prepare the planning document back in 1990 by approving a storm drainage impact fee that is applied to construction permits. The charge is equal to 1% of valuation, and the revenue is fed into a drainage fund that designates spending on drainage studies, a master plan, construction, maintenance and other infrastructure projects.

The town hired a firm to prepare the storm drain master plan and perform geographic infrastructure system mapping. The work cost $132,000, which was covered by the fee revenue.

The drainage fund has $1.39 million available. For the 2023-24 fiscal year, the drainage fee revenues are expected to reach $415,000 and expenses are projected at $600,000.

Expenditures include the cost of the master plan and $250,000 related to the long-planned Winship Bridge replacement, according to the town’s budget.

The majority of the town’s drainage system is about 60 years old. Despite a few trouble spots, it’s in good shape overall, Simonitch said.

“Year by year, we have been keeping up on new maintenance programs, replacement of storm drains and during storms, we do a lot of jetting and clearing of the storm drain lines,” Simonitch said.

Tackling $300,000 in improvements is “very doable,” he said.

The master plan breaks down recommended projects into high-, medium- and low-priority levels. It also recommends that the town budget $10,000 for emergency projects.

One of the higher-priority projects is an estimated $17,000 effort to remove heavy sediment and debris from 130 feet of pipe on Poplar Avenue.

Mayor Elizabeth Brekhus asked staff if officials should be concerned this would cause flooding if it isn’t taken care of.

Simonitch said there is a concern, but there is funding to take care of the high-priority projects this year.

Brekhus said she read a news report that more communities have to start thinking about flood preparedness.

“So I feel like for an area like this where we have flooding, we really need to be worried,” she said.

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