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Residents press council to address overgrown Clar Ditch, collapsing culverts and safety risks
Summary
Several Fremont residents used public comment to press the City Council to address heavy weed growth and blocked culverts in the Clar Ditch after recent flooding, saying contracted maintenance has lapsed and asking the city to reinstate dredging or contingency mowing plans.
Donna Peterson, a Fremont resident who lives alongside the Clar Ditch, told the City Council the ditch has become overgrown and that recent heavy rain pushed water into neighbors’ driveways, adding, “the weeds have gotten so bad there that it ... doesn't look good for Fremont.” She said the neighborhood maintains its lawns and that contract mowing has been inconsistent; she urged the council to consider backup plans if contractors cannot complete the work.
Jane Gibson, who said she lived along the same ditch for about 40 years, described culverts that are collapsing—naming the culvert at East 12th and Claremore—and said blocked culverts and soil under weeds are likely causing the street flooding residents reported last weekend. Gibson recalled earlier periods when the ditch was dredged and said covering the ditch would be prohibitively expensive but that some engineering work is necessary to restore flow.
Multiple residents asked the council to reintroduce dredging or other engineering solutions. A remote commenter also said video and local observations indicate sediment and soil have reduced culvert capacity and urged the council to add the paving and drainage components back into the one‑and‑six‑year plan for the area.
The mayor closed the public‑comment period at 7 p.m. and noted that city staff will have an opportunity to respond during appropriate agenda items; no formal action on the ditch was taken at the Aug. 26 meeting. Council members did not commit to a specific remedy at the meeting but have directed staff to consider public input as they finalize the city’s one‑and‑six‑year street improvement plan for action at the Sept. 9 council meeting.
The item remains a request for staff follow‑up; residents asked the council both for short‑term contingency mowing and for longer‑term consideration of dredging or culvert repair.
The council is expected to take formal action on the one‑and‑six plan at its Sept. 9 meeting.
