ThisWeek CW 09/10/2015

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/09/04/madison-township-sims-ditch-upgrades-alleviating-drainage-issues.html

Franklin County crews anticipate finishing upgrades to the Sims Ditch this fall that should help alleviate some drainage issues for Madison Township’s Harriet neighborhood.

Project representative Jim Ramsey from the Franklin County Engineer’s Office updated township trustees about the project in August.

Sims Ditch is a drainage culvert that extends from the southeast corner of the Harriet neighborhood south to Georges Creek, near where the Rager Road rail crossing meets the creek.

“We have divided this up into three sections, with section one running from Georges Creek up to about where it crosses Rager Road, then section two running from a little northwest of Rager Road up to Sims Road, and the third section being from Sims Road north to Harriet,” Ramsey said.

“Last year, we replaced section one with 30-inch pipe that empties into Georges Creek. This year, we replaced all of section three and now we’re going to go into section two and just do repairs and maintenance to the tiles as necessary there.”

The county is paying for the work, according to Ramsey and township Administrator Susan Brobst. The total cost is about $300,000, with approximately $180,000 spent in 2014 and $120,000 spent this year.

Ramsey said there had been total collapses in some sections which were replaced. Those collapses created mud blockages that resulted in backflow into residences and severe ponding in the Harriet neighborhood.

“These drainage tiles were originally sized for agricultural needs, which is why it was OK to have some ponding,” he said.

“I believe there will still be some drainage issues even with the improvements, because the 100-year floodplain shows that near Georges Creek, there is the potential for serious flooding that we haven’t ever experienced.”

However, he said, there are no funds available to tackle work necessary to completely alleviate the 100-year-flood risk.

“That much backflow could surface flow all the way to the Harriet neighborhood and that’s way more costly than we can handle as a project, so residents might consider adding a backflow preventer,” Ramsey said. “If they do that, they’ll need to know those require routine maintenance.”

Harriet resident Sharon Whitten said she and her neighbors were thankful for the work that has been done, which she said has already been an improvement.

“We do appreciate all the work you’ve done,” Whitten said.