Cottonwood Est-CS 930526
MEMORANDUM
To: Frank Trando, Interim City Manager
From: Kenneth M. Griffin P.E., City Engineer
RE: Letter from Melvin Gross concerning drainage
Date: May 26, 1993
In March, 1992, Melvin Gross contacted me concerning standing water in the ditch that feeds into
Cottonwood Creek. Mr. Gross was interested in having the City regrade and clean out the existing
ditch so that it would flow and eliminate the standing water. In reviewing our City Wide Storm
Water Management Study, it was noted that this particular project is included. However, it is in
the lower half of the projects for the Phase III implementation. The estimated cost for the
improvements is $42,000. That cost includes: the removal of the existing culverts beneath
Cottonwood Road; installation of a 7x3 box culvert; and grading work upstream and downstream
of the new box culvert to allow for positive flow into Cottonwood Creek.
As I discussed with you on May 25, 1993, the City's policy on drainage problems is that we
typically do not do any regrading, channelization or maintenance in creek areas. The drainage
funds that were approved in the 1990 Bond Election were allocated for the City of Coppell to spend
on a priority basis as laid out in the Storm Water Management Plan. We are currently finishing up
Phase I of the implementation. With the mid-year adjustments, funds are now available to construct
the first project in the Phase II implementation. However, there are still 16 other projects until we
reach the project requested by Mr. Gross. Those 16 projects total $2,147,250 according to the
estimates prepared by Albert H. Halff Associates in the Storm Water Management Study.
As you and I discussed, there might be some opportunity for the City to allocate $15,000 to
$20,000 a year in the budget for contracting out some type of channel work. Currently, the City
does not have the equipment or the manpower to maintain channels. Even if the City were to
allocate $15,000 to $20,000 a year for channel maintenance, there would still have to be
reprioritization of some of the projects to be able to drop down and take care of Mr. Gross's
problem.
If I can provide you any additional information on this problem please feel free to contact me.
cc: Steve Goram, Public Works Director
file/kgriffin/gross.drg