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Residents tell Drainage Board plugged railroad culvert has caused repeated highway flooding
Summary
At the Drainage Board meeting, a Canton resident said a culvert under BNSF tracks has been plugged since 2014 and linked it to four highway floods; commissioners said the culvert is on railroad property and discussed contacting the railroad and state road authorities.
The Drainage Board of the Lincoln County Commission heard public concerns about a plugged railroad culvert and repeated highway flooding that local residents say has caused safety and access problems.
Doug McKinney of Canton said a culvert under the railroad tracks west of Tristate Ready Mix has been plugged since flooding in 2014 and that the same stretch flooded four times last year. He urged commissioners to press the railroad and state officials to repair the culvert.
A commissioner who visited the new Justice Center construction site described a detention pond intended to manage drainage on that project, but acknowledged that the detention pond does not resolve upstream culvert issues raised by residents. Staff and commissioners clarified that the culvert is on BNSF railroad right-of-way and said the county lacks authority to act directly on railroad property; several speakers recommended contacting the railroad's roadmaster and relevant state agencies to request cooperation.
The Drainage Board adjourned and the County Commission reconvened after receiving the public comment; staff said they would follow up on jurisdictional questions and contacts with the railroad and state road authorities.
