According to Mayor Jason Akers, City personnel began removing remaining collapsed culverts in Oakland Cemetery last week so dirt work and new drainage piping could be installed and covered this week.
The Oakland Cemetery acts as a pathway for drainage for large waterways in the city. Years ago, the drainage system collapsed and large portions were removed, leaving large, open ditches through the cemetery. Water eventually eroded the ditch bank where the removed culverts were and the ditches widened, endangering grave sites and leading to flooding incidents that caused headstones in effected areas to shift and benches to be carried off in floodwaters.
The original cost of the project was estimated between $117,000-$140,000 to repair, but by utilizing city labor the City is able to complete the project for $91,000. This project was listed as a priority on the City of Monticello’s 10 year Infrastructure Modernization Plan in 2022.
