MBA DRAINAGE MEETING

August 12, 2002

Notes by Joe Reardon

 

Attendees:

 

            Mike Henry; DELDOT Maintenance Superintendent for Sussex County

            Dave Wiecking

            Dan Lyons

            Carl Swanson

            Lindy Cohee

            Tim Hill

            Joe Reardon

 

I. Introduction:

 

A.      The following Board Policies were discussed.

1.      Maintaining drainage ditches is a MBA not an individual homeowner’s responsibility.

2.      MBA budget is divided into Beach Replenishment, current Operating and Capital Improvement with drainage solutions being in Capital Improvement.

3.      A total solution to storm water management within Middlesex Beach and handling water exiting MB is required.

B.     Carl Swanson’s February 9, 2001 report served as the source of the historical record of the problem.

 

II. DELDOTs role:

 

A.      Mike Henry detailed DELDOT’s activities regarding storm water management in and around Middlesex Beach.

B.     He said DELDOT this fall will clear the ditches along the west side of Route 361 where Middlesex Beach water drains.

C.     A new ditch will be dug on the East side of Route 361, thus providing 2 routes for the water to drain from the development.

D.     The ditch between Route 1 and the ocean side of MB along the DELDOT right-of-way will be dug and cleaned for drainage.

 

III. Drainage on the west side of  Middlesex Beach:

 

            Two potential solutions were discussed extensively.

 

1.      Clear the debris, (trees, shrubs, leaves etc.) from the ditches and provide a uniform slope towards the West by repositioning virtually all driveway culverts. This approach would not eliminate completely the standing water after a storm because of the minimal elevation drop across Middlesex Beach.  Bridge Rd, for example, drops about 13” along its pine side length of about 2000’.

2.      Joe Wolf’s concept of installing covered pipe and catchbasins. This could not be done until after step 1 is completed.

Approach 2’s advantages are;

a.      Any standing water would be contained within the pipe, thus reducing the potential health hazard associated with mosquitoes.

b.      Cost savings because the annual maintaining of the open ditches would not be needed, although the catch basins would need to be cleaned out occasionally.

The added installation cost is the disadvantage of this approach. At rough estimated costs of $500 per catchbasin and $5 per foot of 12” diameter corrugated pipe, it was estimated it would add $17,500 for each side of each street if the entire length were done. We have 5 streets wholly within MBA, while Evergreen is partially shared with South Bethany. This cost would have to be balanced versus the advantages. The possibility of only doing the back half of each street was road, as this is where standing water is generally the biggest problem. The scope of this portion of the problem could be more easily determined after the ditches are cleaned and the culverts are properly positioned.

 

IV. Path forward:

 

            Joe Wolf, Dan Lyons and Carl Swanson are meeting with Engineering firms for the Long-Range Planning Committee. They will assess the capabilities of these firms to handle our drainage problem and report back to the Board.

            This topic will be discussed at the Annual meeting to access the community’s desires.