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Alburnett council hears contractor options for lingering Longworth Avenue drainage problem
Summary
Councilors reviewed contractor proposals to address chronic flooding on Longworth Avenue, with staff and contractors recommending regrading as an interim fix and tile installation as a longer‑term solution; the council asked for further estimates and fall measurements before deciding.
The Alburnett City Council on Nov. 14 discussed options to fix a longstanding drainage problem on Longworth Avenue, with staff presenting contractor quotes and agreeing to gather more detailed cost and elevation data before authorizing work.
Mac, speaking for city public works, said a contractor who walked the site recommended regrading the swale to restore adequate fall and drainage. Mac summarized the contractor’s assessment that regrading between property fences could remove standing water and that a new tile might be a longer‑term permanent solution but would be more extensive and expensive because of utility easements.
Contractor Brian Batty (as referenced by staff) noted equipment size and access limitations where back‑to‑back fences constrain the work. Council members and staff discussed the condition of the existing tile, which several speakers said has been compromised multiple times and now fails to carry stormwater as intended. Councilors also noted that several homeowners’ gutter discharges and sump pumps currently feed into the compromised tile, compounding the drainage problem.
City staff said they had obtained one written quote for regrading and had asked Pierce Tobin (site survey and construction) to provide numbers for a tile solution. The council was told Pierce Tobin had surveyed the site but needed time to supply final cost and logistics. Mayor and council members emphasized not rushing into a costly fix without confirming whether there is sufficient fall to make regrading effective.
No formal action was taken. Council directed staff to continue discovery: obtain a second contractor estimate, detailed fall measurements, and a clearer scope from Pierce Tobin so the council can weigh regrading versus tile installation before spring construction. Multiple council members indicated the work is unlikely to occur before spring to avoid poor‑season excavation and to allow homeowner coordination.
Next steps noted by staff included follow‑up with the contractors who expressed interest, clarifying whether fences need temporary removal for access, and presenting a more detailed cost estimate and plan when the council reconvenes.
