FY
2006 Highlights
Public Works services provided in our community are an
integral part of our citizens’ everyday lives as
evidenced this past year as the department addressed
several storm water concerns. In mid October 2005,
heavy and persistent rains caused serious flooding in
the town at several locations, some requiring emergency
response. On Saturday, October 15th, a storm
water culvert which carries water from Meadow Brook
under White Rock Drive was overwhelmed by the flooding.
As a result, the soils around the culvert, as well as
the pavement above it were washed away. This wash-out
meant that the residents at the end of the street had no
way to enter or exit their homes, as there is no other
way out from the cul-de-sac. A crew from Public Works
brought in stone and other materials to fill in around
and above the culvert to bring the street back up to a
level so that vehicles could again drive over the area
and residents could again exit their homes. This work
was completed in less than a day. Over the next few
weeks, Public Works returned to repave the street over
the culvert.
On Pleasant Street near the railroad bridge, the street
was washed away in sections. The damage to the street
resulted from the flooding of the adjacent Mill Brook,
which overflowed its banks, undermined the base of
Pleasant Street, and washed away large sections of the
pavement. One of the sections washed away was 4-˝ feet
deep. Once the flooded Farmington River returned to
within its banks, Public Works brought in large amounts
of rock and stone to fill in the washed out areas and
strengthen the bank along the river. The street was
then resurfaced to allow traffic to resume using the
street.
On Pierson Lane, a brook crossing under the street
overwhelmed the culvert and washed away a 20-foot
section of the sidewalk. Public Works filled in this
damaged section and replaced the sidewalk. On Merriman
Road, a part of a wall surrounding a drainage pond gave
way and eroded an area adjacent to the street. Public
Works filled in the area. On Old River Street, two
large drainage pipes were damaged by the flooding. The
Department removed the damaged pipes and replaced them
with new large drainage pipes. At Northwest Park, a
large section of a walkway was washed away near the
pond. Public Works dealt with the eroded area and
replaced the walkway.
Earlier in the year, a large storm water outfall (a
structure where the storm water sewer ends and where the
storm water enters a water body) failed, which led to
significant erosion behind some houses on Kennedy Road
near Oliver Ellsworth School. Staff from Engineering
and Public Works evaluated the cause of the failure and
designed a new outfall. Because of the estimated cost
and being that a contractor would probably not be able
to get the project completed before the winter, Public
Works and Engineering took on the task and completed it
in a timely manner at a cost significantly less than the
estimate.
Public Works also replaced the storm water system
(sewers and catch basins) on Sinclair Street, and
installed a new drainage system at the eastern end of
Wilson Avenue – a location that historically had flooded
following rain.
Streets which were resurfaced (paved) or received thin
overlays included: Kennedy Road (Palisado to Buckland),
Sheffield Drive, Mountain Road (Bloomfield to Sylvia),
Millbrook Circle, Douglas Street, Wilton Road, Portman
Street, Indian Hill Road, Pigeon Hill Road, Prospect
Hill Road (West to Poquonock), and Chestnut Drive.
Work was completed on the Facility Planning & Reuse
Study to help determine the best use for various town
facilities and buildings and if they are adequate for
our future needs. This particular study took into
consideration two previous studies: one for the Senior
Center and one for all-day kindergarten and combined
them with a mix of other buildings that could be
impacted/utilized for several different uses. The study
matched these buildings or new buildings with programs
for seniors, early childhood, recreation, and existing
programs at the Milo Peck Center. Scenarios from the
study will be incorporated into the town’s Capital
Improvement Program (CIP).
Work was completed on the final phase of improvements to
the Welch Pool. This phase included improvements to the
interior of the bathhouse building. Previous phases
included replacing the underground piping and
installation of a liner on the bottom and sides of the
pool.
