Edmunds County Tribune -

Ipswich residents filled the newly-remodelled City office on Monday evening, March 20 to learn more about the City Council storm sewer project.

Mayor LeRoy Kilber and Joe Whitlock with Stockwell Engineers of Sioux Falls spoke on the Drainage and Storm Sewer project the city has taken on. The project is planned in five phases.

A drainage study was completed in the spring of 2021. Stockwell was contracted to evaluate the stormwater collection system and identify current deficiencies and recommend improvements.

The city’s goal is to begin to remove ditches, add storm sewer and reconstruct city streets with curb and gutter.

The first phase of the project is cleaning the two channels that border Ipswich, one to the south, one to the north. The work will include cleaning, grading and shaping existing channels. Oban Construction got the bid to do the work, beginning with the south channel this summer and the north channel in summer of 2024.

Phases 2 through 5 would include street reconstruction with curb and gutter where storm sewer is installed.

The estimated cost for Phase 2 is $3,082,420. That phase is the southwestern section of Ipswich. With assistance from Northeastern Council of Governments (NECHO) Planning District and Stockwell, the city applied for funding of the southwest area improvements. The city has received a grant for $1,770,370 and a 30-year loan for $814,112. The loan will be paid by an $8.05/month surcharge added to residents’ sewer bills. That leaves $531,618 to be assessed to the property owners who will have curb and gutter installed. A special assessment policy resolution was passed in January. The cost is $85/front foot based on the size of the lot where curb and gutter is installed. A 60-feet wide lot would pay $5,100. The assessment can be paid in one payment or a tax assessment over 15 years.

A survey is scheduled in April to design the plan. A public meeting will be held after the schematic design is finalized. Construction documents will be prepared for bidding next winter and construction would be scheduled for 2024.

The southwest drainage improvements will include a holding area for water collection north of the railroad and south of the garden area. That would slow the water through the railroad culvert.

Residents at Monday’s meeting had many comments. The added sewer surcharge would be difficult for many to pay, especially those on a fixed income. They predicted Ipswich would lose residents due to the cost increases. And the tax increase for those residents could make it harder to sell their homes.

One resident said the city should have been more diligent at maintaining the ditch system in town.

Many at the meeting felt there should be an election on the storm sewer issue. A petition collected signatures to stop the January assessment resolution. Mayor Kilber said the petition was not valid since it sought to stop a resolution that was already approved.

The Phases 3 to 5 are in other sections of the city. The estimated cost of all the improvements is $13,923,726. But continuing the work would depend on the funding available in the future.