Water drainage on the west side of Scott City has more twists and turns than a Brett Favre news conference announcing whether or not he plans to retire.
And following a heavy rain that means flooded streets, high water threatening homes and standing water that results in mosquito habitat for residents living north of K96 Highway and west of Glenn Avenue.
At a recent meeting, Councilman Steve Schmitt said he was hearing complaints about water flow at the intersection of Fourth Street and Russell Avenue, but it’s apparent the problem is far more widespread.
Eventually, most of the water west of US83 Highway, between Second and Fifth streets, flows to a storage pond on the west edge of the city. How the water gets there is anything but a direct route.
The water is diverted through a series of culverts and road ditches where they exist. In some places streets are simply flooded because there’s more water than the drainage system can handle.
While observing the flow of water following a recent rain, Public Works Director Mike Todd said the depth in some places was eight inches “and that’s not the deepest part.”
Eventually, a large amount of water converges at Fourth and Russell, though that’s not the only location where high water and inadequate drainage is a problem.
The council feels the problem may have increased during the past year as a result of new construction. The Law Enforcement Center, along with the addition of some large, metal buildings in the vicinity have eliminated what had been areas of dirt which could absorb some water flow.
This has also contributed to water runoff, creating more water than can be handled at several bottlenecks.
“Water is getting to the area (Fourth and Russell) more quickly, but it has no place to go,” said Schmitt. “Water is moving through the area much faster than before.
“Even with a two-inch rain the amount of water this drainage system is expected to handle is pretty impressive.”
Mayor Dan Goodman says a shallow ditch is needed to take water west from Russell on Fourth Street. But that alone wouldn’t seem to be enough.
Adding to the change in water patterns has been the removal of railroad tracks in some areas which had served as a barrier for many years.
City crews have been busy over the past couple of weeks cleaning storm drains, clearing ditches and installing curb/gutter to improve water flow. There are additional plans to install another storm drain and replace some culverts which are too small.
Clean-Up Work
In the storm drain between Jackson Street and Holterman’s Veterinary Clinic crews hauled out 60 yards of rock, cement and debris.
On the north side of the new Law Enforcement Center, between Kingsley and Jackson streets, future plans include curb and gutter which has already been approved by the council.
A major project, approved by the council at Monday’s meeting, calls for installation of a 530 ft. storm drain (2x4 ft.) on the north side of Russell St. to Casey Avenue at a cost of about $16,000 to $18,000. This will assist in moving water on the south side of the Kansas Department of Transportation building.
Todd emphasized this was perhaps the key element in efforts to improve water drainage.
All work is to be done by city employees. Todd said they will continue to replace culverts over the next few years.
••••••••••••••
Northwest Scott City Water Drainage
What’s been done:
1) Approximately 60 yards of rock and debris has been removed from the west main storm sewer line between Jackson St. and Holterman’s Veterinary Clinic.
2) Curb and gutter has been installed on the west side of Russell St. from Fourth to West 4th Street.
3) The valley on the north side of Fourth and Russell has been rebuilt to flow water to the west.
4) Weeds, silt and trash have been removed from the west side of Russell St., from Fourth to 2nd streets, and west on 2nd Street.
Work to be done:
1) Culvert to be taken out at west 4th St. and Russell St. and a valley installed to flow water to the north.
2) Culvert to be taken out at 4th and Kingsley; small valley to be installed to divert water to the north instead of to the west. Future plans are to curb/gutter Kingsley from 4th to 3rd streets.
3) Replace culvert and valley on 3rd St. between Kingsley and Jackson. (Culvert removed from west 4th St.).
4) Curb and gutter on north side of 4th between Kingsley and Jackson. Build up to center of 4th Street.
5) Try to get permission from railroad to clean area along tracks to improve flow of water to the west.
6) Pour a 2x4 ft. storm drain on the north side of west 4th St., from Russell to Casey Avenue. This will include 530 feet at a cost of $16,000 to $18,000.