Residents seek solutions to drainage woes

Residents in the Bullhook Drainage Area on Havre’s southside are looking at the possibility of a Special Improvement District to help alleviate drainage problems.

About 30 residents of Bullhook Boulevard and adjacent areas gathered at City Hall Wednesday night to discuss the idea with Public Works Superintendent Dave Peterson.

Peterson said there has always been some drainage problems, but “recent construction has changed the dynamics.”

Ponds of water form on the streets because water is flowing differently, he said.

When pools form, it breaks up the streets and that makes ponding worse, he said.

Residents spoke of their concerns and ideas they had for solving the problems.

Peterson said the city has made some fixes, but permanent solutions are too expensive for the city to make on its existing budget.

If a Special Improvement District is created, he explained, property owners would be assessed a certain amount to pay for the repairs. A majority of voters have to approve the creation of the district.

Among the issues to be resolved, he said, are the boundaries of the district.

Subdivisions surrounding the affected area may be responsible for the water problems, he said, yet the subdivisions don’t feel the impact.

“They may say ‘it’s not our problem,’” Peterson said.

But people living in the affected areas may feel differently, he said.

Peterson said he called the meeting just to test the waters, but he was convinced a majority were interested in looking into the idea.

He said city officials over the next month will take a look at what’s causing the problems and come up with ideas on the best solutions.

A second neighborhood meeting will be held at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 18, at City Hall to go over the city’s findings.

The city will listen to people’s ideas on what should be done, he said.