Resident presses Nokomis council over deep ditch, city maintenance policy

Sarah Collins told the City of Nokomis council the ditch along Hamilton Street next to her property has become too deep for her family to maintain and that the city has stopped routine mowing. "My family has lived there for over fifty years and the city has always maintained the ditch," Collins said, adding she received an ordinance violation warning this year for weeds but managed to cut them down to avoid a ticket.

Mayor Goldsmith acknowledged that other residents have had similar trouble with larger ditches and said the council would address ditch maintenance later in the meeting. Streetwork updates from Commissioner Glenn and a comment from Stevie Guinn — that the street department lacks the equipment to mow large ditches like those on Hamilton Street — prompted discussion of alternatives, including reaching out to Witt Township to borrow or coordinate use of a mower that can handle the larger ditches.

The council did not adopt a new policy during the meeting; Mayor Goldsmith said he would contact Witt Township and return with options at a future meeting. No formal motion or vote on ditch maintenance policy was recorded.