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Contractor details ditch and flood‑gate work, council and resident concerns about chronic flooding
Summary
Contractor Alfred Bradford updated Crisfield City Council on nine ditch‑maintenance projects and floodgate replacements; residents and council members pressed for easement completions, improved floodgate design and a more coordinated drainage plan. Council noted funding and timing constraints tied to existing contracts.
Alfred Bradford, the contractor the city engaged for ditch maintenance, told the Crisfield City Council that crews have nine projects planned and that one floodgate replacement at the end of Saddle Street was completed more than a year ago. Bradford said crews have placed floodgates at the small‑boat harbor, will clean the ditch on 7th Street up to the sewer plant and intend to clear ditches on Cove and Collins streets to restore proper outlets for stormwater.
"We had nine different projects we're looking on," Bradford said, and described work to replace or sleeve older gates, install rubber seals and add stainless‑steel sleeves inside pipes to prevent bolts loosening and debris from jamming gates. He said some gates use an older design and that newer flat‑gate models with bolted rubber seals and sleeves should reduce the debris issues that have caused repeated failures.
Council members and staff pressed for specifics about easement acquisition, schedule and coordination with state and marina interests. Bradford said the city is waiting on a small number of easements for a Cove Street outfall ("It's just three houses," staff noted) and expected to begin much of the work within roughly a week; he emphasized the contract funding schedule runs through December.
Resident and former city employee George Freelee later used the public‑comment period to criticize the pace and coordination of ditch work, saying many ditches do not connect into a functioning drainage network and urging the council to require more durable gate installations and stronger oversight. "We've been 20 years and all I ever hear about floodgates failed... we're gonna flood," Freelee said, calling for stainless‑steel protection on both sides of gates and for council members to attend meetings in person.
Mayor Taylor and staff acknowledged both the visible progress on certain sites and the limits of current funding; they said staff will continue to pursue easements, coordinate with State Highway on tide gates on Hall Highway, and seek supplemental funding where necessary. The mayor noted contractor Brian (city staff) is routinely inspecting gates and that staff will provide follow‑up answers on specific debris concerns and outstanding easements.
The council did not take a formal vote on additional ditch funding at this meeting. Staff said they will return with budget and timeline clarifications during a future session.
