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Town of Newburgh engineers present Driftwood drainage plan; board raises access and maintenance concerns
Summary
Town engineer Drew Fleming outlined a Driftwood outfall and manhole-drop design Nov. 24 that reroutes the outfall away from a large cottonwood, adds riprap and a tied-anchor fluxomat; board members raised questions about access for excavation and who will maintain inlets.
Town of Newburgh town engineer Drew Fleming presented updated designs for stormwater improvements in the Driftwood subdivision during the Nov. 24 stormwater board meeting, describing changes intended to reduce erosion and protect a nearby cottonwood tree.
Fleming said the design includes a manhole-drop structure, a shifted outfall to avoid the tree, a headwall with energy dissipators and a tied-concrete anchor block ("fluxomat") across the ditch. "We estimate about 60 tons" of riprap at the erosion location, Fleming said, and the structure would sit below the Ohio River level to prevent debris ingestion.
Board members probed constructability and ongoing maintenance. "Who would be responsible for making sure that that stays clean so that the flows can not overtop?" asked Jerry Brasher, noting leaf buildup at inlet locations. Fleming said town personnel would be responsible for maintenance but recommended inlet geometry changes — including a larger concave inlet or "milk-stool" openings — to reduce clogging.
Members also warned that excavation and installation would occur in a constrained easement with limited staging area; board member Lee McClellan raised concerns about reaching a 13-foot manhole and where excavated material would be placed without jeopardizing nearby retaining walls or homes. Fleming said he would consult contractors (Sam and BBI were previously used on related projects) to confirm access routes and equipment needs, and then pursue permits and easements as necessary.
The board agreed Fleming should move forward with contractor outreach and permit/easement work to keep the bonded Driftwood project advancing toward land acquisition and permitting phases.
