April Showers bring May flowers!  Right?  They also bring flooding over roadways if driveway culverts aren’t working properly.  Also with the uncharacteristic rainfalls we have had this winter, the town has experienced high water in some ditches where it flows over and onto some town roads, causing hazardous conditions, and causing damage to the roads.

The main reason this happens is because private driveway culverts aren’t working properly mainly because they are either plugged, or the end pans have plants, or weeds growing by them, or even landscaping such as rocks, or decorative bricks that is blocking the water flow.

The purpose of private driveway culverts is to allow water to flow through them, and not spill out onto the roadway.

Town ordinance, 425-4-3(C)(d)(3) states:  “All driveways within the Town are private and shall not be considered a public road.  No private driveway may be dedicated to the public without acceptance and approval by the Board, and the Town shall not be responsible for maintenance, upkeep, or repair of any private driveway.”

And

Town ordinance, 425-4-3(C)(e)[3] states:  “If surface runoff, accumulating debris, or other conditions created by driveways or field roads obstruct or become a potential hazard to a public road, the Town shall notify the property owner of such condition as a violation of this.  Any property owner failing to correct such conditions within 30 days of notice by the Town shall be subject to penalties”.

The Town officials are asking all property owners to check their driveway culverts this spring to make sure they are debris free, and water can flow through easily.  Also, clear out any plants, weeds, or organic growth near the ends of the culvert.  If you have rocks, or landscaping around your culvert, please be certain water can pass through it with ease.  If they block the flow in any way, or slow the flow down, please remove the rocks or landscaping around the ends of your culvert.