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Highway official proposes 24-inch culvert to reduce yard flooding
Summary
Officials discussed installing a culvert on Suzanne Drive to redirect snowmelt and runoff away from affected lawns, noting landowner permission and grant funding would be needed and that the measure is preventative rather than a complete fix.
A highway official told the Stamford Select Board that recent washouts near Suzanne Drive have repeatedly damaged private lawns and that a preventative culvert could reduce the problem.
"I would put a 24 in minimum," the highway official said when describing the size needed to route surface flow away from houses. Board members and the official discussed placing the culvert about 100–150 feet down the road so runoff would enter existing ditches rather than crossing into yards. The official emphasized the work would require landowner permission because it would direct water onto private property.
Members agreed the town lacks funding for major fixes and said they would pursue grants to cover part of a larger project. One member described an estimated project cost on the order of $100,000 and suggested grant awards could reduce the town’s share. Several participants cautioned the culvert is a mitigation step — "you're never gonna stop it all" — and noted it should not interfere with any planned future capital work.
Next steps included confirming property access with adjacent landowners, verifying permitting requirements, and identifying available culvert funds (the town budgets for about four culverts annually). The Select Board did not approve construction at the meeting; they discussed pursuing grants and coordinating landowner permission before committing funds.
