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NEDERLAND — Keith Bass did not mince words when he described the problems he has when there is a heavy rain event. 

Sewage, he said, is affected by rainwater. He knows this because he has had his Nederland home flooded with feces because streets and ditches were not being maintained.

Bass was one of many who addressed city council earlier this week to discuss their experiences with infrastructure issues where some residents cannot flush their toilets during a heavy rain. 

Resident Jolei Shipley addressed council and Public Works Director Rob Woods with questions on the cleaning and shaping of drainage ditches in Wards 3 and 4 — the area in which has the most issues with drainage. 

One problem is the city does not have a comprehensive plan in place for the work that is needed, she said.

“No one’s got ascertainable goals, ascertainable deadlines. It’s all on a whim. It’s not appropriate, it’s not professional, it’s not conducive to good business, and it’s not good for our city. So we’ve got to one, get a culvert plan you’re going to follow for everybody, not just some people, and then stick to it,” Shipley said. 

Councilmember Randy Sonnier said the city has started on Wards 3 and 4 then will follow up with Wards 1 and 2.

Rebeca Ward told council she encountered problems when she moved in in 2018 and had city workers come out without a permanent solution. She gave up calling in 2019 because she felt bad calling the workers out in the pouring rain to say there was nothing they could do. 

“So we have bought a camping toilet for the house,” Ward said, adding her husband lifted his truck so they could go out to their places of employment to use the restroom if it rains. She asked the city to come up with a plan to solve the problem. 

The city approved engaging Texas Drainage Inc. for the cleaning and reshaping of drainage ditches in Wards 3 and 4. The total cost comes to $204,899.20 to  be paid via the Streets Department’s contractual services line-item. 

This breaks down to $150,713.20 for Ward 3 which covers 34,253 linear feet of open ditch. The cost for Ward 4 is $54,186, which covers 12,315 linear feet of open ditch.  

Creation of a culvert maintenance plan was not on the agenda. 

Currently the public works department has to put a schedule for the work on the culverts in conjunction with the work on the drainage ditches, according to City Manager Chris Duque. The city plans to do this in-house with staff and equipment. 

“However, we are waiting on confirmation of previously scheduled work (chip seal road work with the county) will be done this year,” he said. “They cannot schedule the work crews for the culvert work until they finalize the schedule for street work.”

The goal, he said, would be within a 12-month period to tackle every ditch and culvert throughout Nederland.  During the budget process, the City Council and staff will discuss any requests for assistance or funding for the drainage goals and objectives approved by the city council.