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Residents say closed "blind ditches" are flooding roads; board seeks answers
Summary
Speakers told the board that 'blind ditches' previously maintained (they said) by inmate crews were discontinued and are now overflowing onto Route 617 and other roads; the board asked staff to investigate drainage, photos were offered, and the issue will be forwarded to appropriate authorities.
Residents and board members raised concerns that a previous roadside-maintenance practice involving inmate crews and private contractors has stopped, leaving blind ditches clogged and allowing water to flow onto the highway. "What went wrong with the system that we had? They had inmates doing it," the Chair (speaker 2) said, noting the result is water on the pavement and deteriorating road surfaces.
Staff and other participants cautioned they did not have the full administrative history and cited liability reasons for working off the right-of-way. Residents said the problem affects multiple county roads and shared photos of clogged ditches (Moore Swamp Church area) to be forwarded to county staff for follow-up. The board asked staff to look into the maintenance history and potential remedies; no policy change was adopted at the meeting.
