Minutes - Public Works Committee - 06/21/2022

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half the water is running off the roads into the driveways and ditches. He believed that regrading a better swale and resizing the culvert would provide a solution. He believed the pond to the west was adequately sized. Chairperson Riley commented that again it seems that the replacement of the septic system was the cause of these issues. City Engineer Westby replied that typically when a new system is installed it is put in a new location and perhaps that was part of the issue. He stated that staff could look to see what perpetuated the drainage issue, look at potential costs for regrading, and potential impacts. Chairperson Riley recognized the hesitancy of the Committee to spend $500,000 to fix something that was caused by replacement of a septic system. Councilmember Musgrove asked if this would be a situation where a rain garden could help. City Engineer Westby replied that he is unsure of the soil types in that area or level of the water table. He commented that with the wetland complex to the west he would guess the water table could be high. He identified other properties that have reached out to the City with complaints on this topic. He commented that when the original property owner put the septic system in, he did have problems with water coming into his basement. Mr. Buchholz commented that per the MS4 Permit, the City is not allowed to send water from the right-of-way onto private land. He commented that if there is not drainage and utility easement through Mr. Ridgeway's property, drainage cannot be sent into that area. City Engineer Westby replied that there is an issue, and Staff's proposed design would prevent that from occurring and prevent the City from having to purchase an easement. He explained that when the City was incorporated, it incorporated the existing drainage systems and issues. Chairperson Riley commented that he is shocked at the cost. Councilmember Woestehoff referenced property four in the diagram which he believed does have an easement. He asked if the issue is that the easements are not in the right place and in order to use that easement there would need to be significant tree removal. City Engineer Westby stated that in order to direct water to that location, water would need to be rerouted which would include regrading. Councilmember Woestehoff commented that there is an easement between properties seven and four. City Engineer Westby replied that there is easement but that is not where the drainage wants to go. He stated that if they were going to perpetuate drainage through the yard, an easement would need to be purchased. Public Works Committee/June 21, 2022 Page 4 of 13