Storm drainage a priority for Ganado council

   When Tropical Storm Bill dumped nearly 14 inches of rain on the city of Ganado in less than 24 hours, it became abundantly clear to the city council where the worst drainage problems were.

   According to Mayor Clinton Tegeler, south Second St., right next to the downtown area, will get some major drainage attention in the upcoming year as a result of a collaborative effort between the city and the Ganado Community Development Corporation. 

   Tegeler said all of the new drainage the city has done so far worked really well, but “when all the outlets are completely backed up, you can have 30 foot ditches and the water isn’t going anywhere.”

He said there were only about five houses that actually got water in them, but the city drains much better with recent projects.

   Not all neighborhoods can be helped, he added. 

   “Some neighborhoods would have to be raised a few feet to fix the problem,” he said.

   But residents on Second St. and other areas of the Bauknight Addition should get drainage relief with the upcoming plan to address the problem.

   Engineers will be brought in to study the area and figure out a solution.

   It might not be good news for everyone, Tegeler said.

   “Someone might have just spent thousands of dollars installing a culvert and if we go in with engineering and find out it isn’t up to grade we are going to have to rip it all out,” he added. “There will probably be some feathers ruffled.”

In other news, Public Works Director Curtis Martin told council the dog pound is finished and work on the new playground equipment isn’t far behind. 

   Police Chief David Merritt told council he applied for a grant for patrol cars; and Ganado Volunteer Fire Dept. Fire Chief Bernard Scott said they submitted three grant applications totalling $120,000. He said the department had two nights of training. One was for inventory and to check out the trucks and the second was three hours of training on communications. He said 24 members were trained during the month.

   Council approved a new lease agreement between the city and Kevin and Angela Petrash for housing for the Jackson County EMS at 210 E. Putnam. Tegeler said the insurance rates for the house increased which raised the cost of the lease from $775 per month to $1,175 per month. He said he has discussed permanent housing for the crew with the Jackson County Hospital District. City Attorney Gary Olson said council needs to ensure the house has operational smoke detectors and that they are regularly tested. He said since that is the responsibility of the tenant, it falls on the council to see that it is done.