Drainage issues have always been an issue in Monticello.
One of the ways to fix them as best we can is through the use of technology, such as the police department’s aerial drone, to spot areas that need attention and then to utilize what resources we have at our disposal to fix the problems we see from the air as well as those we can identify from the ground.
Inmates have been used in the past to clean ditches. I submitted the required paperwork and had them here this year working as well.
Due to weather conditions when they came, they helped perform other tasks we needed done. We will have them back as soon as they are willing to come. The heavy machinery used for these projects, however, is operated by our Public Works Staff.
We don’t need to pay an engineering firm to tell us to clean out ditches to let water flow. While we have a long road ahead of fixing decades of overgrowth, we are making progress.
I also believe before we spend large amounts of money on a drainage project, we should make sure we have done all we can do, so that when we do tackle a drainage project, we aren’t spending money on things we could have done ourself. The money we save by working smarter can be used for other needed infrastructure projects.
The Public Works staff has removed tires, television sets, hand rails, clothes, cross ties and household trash out of Godfrey ditch, much of which was blocking water flow from Jackson Street all the way to East Gaines. While each of the areas worked may seem small, there was a tremendous amount of work done. From widening ditches, cleaning them and hauling them off, it’s not an easy job and it’s time consuming.
One ditch, around 12 foot wide, was restricted down to allowing only about a foot of the area allowing water to flow. Several tires caught on a log had caused other debris to hang up and almost completely impede the flow. This back up effected homes two blocks back north.
The City will continue to remove debris from the area to make sure water flow is not impeded and kindly asks the citizens to not dispose of household items in creeks or ditches.
