East end gets help with storm drainage

The city of Havre has plans to provide some temporary relief for the drainage problem that has long plagued city residents on the east side, Mayor Bob Rice said.

"We want to help keep things from flooding when it rains," said Rice, "so we are going to install some Echo drains."

Dave Peterson, director of public works, said Echo drains are a type of storm drain commonly found on streets and bridges.

Rice said the drains are a temporary solution and that the problem will be fixed permanently when the First Street project becomes a reality sometime around 2005 or 2006.

Rice said the drains were suggested by Jay Springer of Milk River Engineering when they met a couple of months ago to look at the east end.

A drain is to be installed on 12th Avenue and Eighth Street behind Legion Field, with the possibility of another further north on 12th Avenue. The drains, with their perforated covers, will be dug into the street and will siphon rainwater into the coulee east of 12th Avenue, forming a collection pond.

Rice added that he is trying to get Hill County to put another drain at the south end of 14th Avenue where it continues out to Saddle Butte because, he said, "a lot of water drains down from that direction."

The cost of three drains will run about $3,000 to $4,000, said Rice, and the county would need to pay for its own, while the city will probably use funds from its water and sewer account.

Rice said he wants to get started installing the drains, "right quick, before the weather gets too cold." He added that the city is waiting on the delivery of the drains, and that he spoke with the manufacturers on Tuesday.