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Water Causing Big Problems
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This, unfortunately, is not an uncommon sight around Marshall County this fall. This road is located in Weston Township near Amherst and is one of many roads covered by water in the area.
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Pure frustration.
That probably best sums up the feelings of those in the county responsible for trying to keep roads passable in the county, for farmers trying to figure out how they will transport harvested grain when and if they can get into their fields, and for a growing number of residents who are wondering how they will get to work or even get to and from their homes on mud-slick and water-covered roads.
"Every direction you go it's just terrible," said County Highway Superintendent Butch Winson. "Even on the main roads, like the oil road going north out of Britton, there is water right up to the edge. I've never seen that.
"It's just been a very frustrating summer. We really haven't had the chance to maintain any of the roads. All we've been doing is fixing. Most of the time the soft spots in the roads are pretty much gone by the end of June or first part of July, but they just never went away this year. We've been fighting that, along with the high water."
Some of the county's townships are in even worse shape, especially those in the western parts of the county. The problems also extend into Brown County and the Claremont and Hecla areas.
Don Symens, supervisor in Weston Township which includes the town of Amherst, and Don Hanson, supervisor in Newark Township north of Britton, both said it has been an ongoing struggle.
Symens said that of the 38 miles of road in Weston Township, all but five miles have water over the road. One road had a three-quarters mile stretch under water, and that water is a foot and a half deep.
"It's as bad as I've ever seen it, and I've talked to people older than me that have lived out there that have never seen it this bad," said Symens. "We've spent more money on rock and gravel this summer (about $60,000) than we have for years, and the roads are actually in worse shape. Now we've changed our priorities from fixing roads to making sure people can get out, and we have moved out one family. It's just really hard to believe what it's like out there unless you're driving around trying to find a way to get to somebody's place."
Weston officials held a meeting last week Monday to try and come up with some solutions, but they were hard-pressed to find any. One of the problems has been finding sources for rock and gravel.
"We were asking anybody and everybody if they knew where we could get rock, and at the same time we have to watch finances," noted Symens. "We also still have to be prepared for snow."
Hanson doesn't know where to turn.
"We've tried to keep a road out for everybody, but it's getting to the point where we can't even do that anymore," Hanson said. "We've spent all our money and don't know what to do."
Newport Township and Claremont Township in Brown County, spent close to $120,000 trying to shore up water-logged roads. Just $15,000 of that cost was absorbed by FEMA funds.
Hanson said the "west half of the township is inundated with water, and in the east half the oil pipeline has it all torn up." The pipeline will pay to repair roads damaged by heavy equipment, but that doesn't do anything for the short-term problems.
"My wife and I are already pretty sure that we'll have to rent an apartment in Langford for her and the two children to live so that they can go to school," predicted Hanson. "And right now you better know which roads you can drive on. In some places people are just driving through the water.
"My Dad was born in 1905 and he told me one time back in the early 1920's that there was enough water that he could ice skate to Claremont," added Hanson. "I'm pretty sure you could do that today."
Farmers are also going to have to use the soft roads to haul grain, and that will cause further damage.
"Farmers have to get their product out of the field and into the markets, and that will be a problem," admitted Winson. "They have some big equipment, and it is tough on roads. But they have to do it, and we know it's going to happen."
"We have to get the crop out, but we have to keep a way out for ourselves, too," stressed Hanson. "I haven't started harvesting yet because I simply don't have a road where I can get anywhere with equipment. And if I could get there, I'm not so sure I could get anywhere with the combine."
There are also a number of other peripheral issues to deal with concerning roads.
"People are worried about school bus routes and that type of thing, and some are worried about what it's going to be like getting to work. Then there's the issues of fire trucks and ambulances," added Winson.
County and township officials are keeping 911 officials informed of road conditions as best they can to help in routing emergency services.
Mother Nature has been the culprit. Well above average rainfall, especially this fall, has made conditions progressively more difficult. One producer near Langford estimated that 19 inches of rain had fallen since Sept. 8.
As bad as the situation is this fall, fears are that it will get worse with even just normal snowfall this winter.
"An open winter would be a definite plus and a good Christmas present," hoped Winson. "But if we get much snow at all there will be quite a few more roads under water this spring. The ground is so saturated and the water is just not going away.
"Basically, what we're trying to do now is to make all the roads passable to get us through the winter. It's crunch time now, and we have to get as much done as we can before freeze-up. But there is just so much water over the roads that we just can't get rid of it, and some of the roads will probably just be closed for the winter."
Symens doesn't even want to think about spring.
"With conditions like they are going into the winter, if we get any snow at all spring is going to be a nightmare. And if we get much snow before freeze-up, I don't even know how we're going to get anywhere.
"When I get calls from people, right now I don't know what to tell them," concluded Symens. "All I can say is we're trying. But you realize how powerless and helpless we are. You almost have to laugh or you will cry."
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©Marshall County Journal 2009
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