Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Mapping topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff describe DNR 604(b) stormwater mapping grant and CCTV findings; recommend phased mapping and repairs
Summary
Public works staff told the council the city won a Department of Natural Resources Section 604(b) water-quality grant to map the municipal storm-sewer system, that CCTV of pipes in phase 1 found nearly a dozen failed pipes, and that mapping will guide prioritized repairs and budgeting.
Drew Williford, public‑works/stormwater staff, briefed the council on a Department of Natural Resources Section 604(b) water‑quality management planning grant to produce a survey-grade storm‑sewer map for the City of Mexico.
Williford said the map is required for the city’s MS4 (municipal separate storm sewer system) permit responsibilities and for tracing illicit discharges to their source. He described how the city previously relied on an older CAD map and said the grant will fund higher‑precision, survey‑grade mapping and recommended closed‑circuit television (CCTV) inspection to assess pipe condition.
Williford reported that a prior phase of CCTV in the downtown area inspected about 40 pipes and found nearly 12 with failures; the city has already purchased pipe to address some of those failures. He said the mapping and CCTV work will help the city prioritize repairs and avoid events such as sinkholes: “Some of you may remember … we had a large sinkhole develop along Clark Street,” Williford said, describing a previously undiscovered 10‑foot void under a sidewalk.
Williford summarized the planned approach: advertise for a consultant and select one within approximately a month to six weeks, present a recommendation to council around March, and proceed with a phased mapping project that could take more than a year for the initial mapping work. He said the city originally budgeted about $35,000 a year for a longer program but that adding CCTV to phase 1 consumed funds; he estimated the expanded scope will add roughly three years and “probably a little over $100,000” total, partially offset by about $50,000 from the grant.
He also described public‑outreach plans tied to the grant: a public meeting, stormwater web resources (including anonymous reporting), newspaper notices, and social‑media posts; the grant requires public education and outreach during the mapping work.
Council questions focused on pipe materials and project timeline. Williford said many failing pipes are corrugated metal and reiterated that detailed mapping and pipe inspection are intended to find problems before they lead to sinkholes or other failures.
Ending: Staff will return with a consultant recommendation and a proposed scope and schedule; councilmembers were advised that the mapping program will likely trigger future construction and budget requests once inspections identify priority repairs.
