05-26-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, May 26, 2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. 9. BALDUR PARK ROAD DESIGN GUIDANCE (continued) Jeff Uklu, 1416 Baldur Park Road, stated one of the culverts happens to be located in front of his property and that in previous years the culvert dumps water into his yard when the lake is high. Last year it was particularly bad and that it basically forms an outlet into his yard. Uklu stated that culvert has also shifted and moved over the years and at the present time it is almost level with the bituminous surface. Uklu stated he would be curious to know what the thinking or objective is to replacing the culverts. Martini indicated there are areas where the water is trying to go from the east to the west, and without the culverts, they would need to push the road down even further in order to get the water over it. Martini stated one option they have looked at is whether or not some flap gates could be installed on the west side of the culverts. Uklu indicated the culverts have been plugged for a decade or more and that apparently the water flushed the debris out last year. Uklu stated in his observation the culverts present more of an obstacle than solution. McMillan asked if there is enough elevation change between the east and west side. Martini indicated there is not much. McMillan asked if the culverts allow the water to go back and forth. Martini indicated they can take a look at it farther. Martini stated there are a couple of little spots where the water is trying to get from the backside of the neighbors' homes on the east side over to the west and that the challenge in trying to shift it all from the east to the west is to have enough of a pitch on it. Martini stated either the west side of the road would need to be lowered or the east side of the road would need to be raised, which would be rather tricky. Martini stated he certainly understands the issues and that they will look at the elevations. Martini stated the intent is to at least maintain what is there and hopefully improve it. McMillan stated because there is lake on both sides of the road, when the lake level is high, it is difficult to do any type of mitigation. McMillan stated in her view the culvert would only work when the water level is lower so it can properly channel the water in the right direction. McMillan stated once the lake level is higher than normal, it really is not possible to do much other than realizing it is in a floodplain. McMillan stated the residents will have to accept that reality and that the City will try to do what they can do for normal conditions but that it will never be perfect. McMillan stated the City will need to decide what is most effective, and that in her view repairing the sewer and the I & I reduction are both positive steps. McMillan noted the road is breaking up to the north and that it is definitely due for some work. McMillan stated the question is how much work and how many dollars. Martini stated in response to Council Member Walsh's comments, it is very difficult to predict the type of life span the City will get out of any of these options. Martini stated as they looked at Option 3, they determined it is not likely they will get a longer pavement life but that there will be a base that the City can work with again, which was the one key advantage. Page 11 of 22