Bond Would Improve Water Drainage Systems

By: Stephanie Morrissey - Email

Updated: Mon 10:25 PM, Aug 20, 2012

Monday night, the city council approved a bond that will improve the city's storm drainage system. They vote on one of these bonds every two to three years and once again, it's up to Lincoln residents to make the final decision.

$7.9 million. That's how much the city is asking for to fix old and broken drainage systems around town.

If voters pass it in November, the improvements will cost the average taxpayer an extra $5.40.

But why is storm drainage important?

"We're focusing on urban storm drain projects. We want to enhance the amount of water going through the pipes. Sometimes we need to fix them, sometimes we need to add more and sometimes they're under capacity," said Ben Higgins, Senior Engineer.

Getting those pipes up to par means neighborhoods and businesses will see less flooding during normal storms. These fixes won't stop flooding in all cases.

"We can't do much against a hundred year event. People will get flooded. We don't have funding to maintain that kind of flow," said Higgins.

If citizens approve the bond, the city will have the funding to improve pipes in the worst condition.

"Even if you don't live in area without a new storm drain project, you'll eventually be downtown or other areas and these fixes will help you too there," said Higgins.

Higgins says these bonds are the only source of funding for drainage maintenance projects. Without it, residents would see the effects.

"We don't' want to get far behind, millions of dollars behind. We need to keep up as much as possible. Fix things as we go along at a steady pace and not get far behind," said Higgins.

The money would also be spent repairing areas where flooding has been a frequent problem.