Ditch Maintenance The Street Department maintains ditches along 60 miles
of unimproved streets that do not have curbs or gutters.
This allows proper drainage and minimizes flooding.
Ditches are inspected and cleaned simultaneously with our storm
sewer inspections/cleaning annually.
Usually the entire ditch is not cleaned — only the portion where
debris is obstructing water flow.
Ditches are redefined by request from the property owner
and/or through our Engineering and Street Department when
a problem is identified.
Ditches were constructed as a means to convey water
from storm runoff to an adequate outlet.
Ditches also serve in the capacity of temporary retention areas.
This allows additional time so the water drainage systems can
carry away excess water during heavy rains.
Some property owners over the years have filled in their portion
of a ditch, landscaping over top. We advise against this, as it
often causes neighboring property owners to fill in their portion
or deal with the water runoff and inadequate drainage.
To report a problem with your ditch,
please call our office at (937) 296-2472.
Berm Maintenance Road edge berming of unimproved streets (no curb or gutter) is performed where deemed necessary to protect the road edge. Residential streets
are bermed a maximum of 18 inches from edge of pavement.
Berming is done for the following reasons:
To support the asphalt edge of the street to keep it from breaking
up as much as possible.
To provide a smooth transition from the asphalt road edge to
the existing grade of the surrounding landscape.
Keep storm water runoff from ponding at road edge and freezing.
To make it easier for people in wheel chairs to maneuver.
If your street is in need of berm maintenance,
please call our office at (937) 296-2472.
Asphalt Programs The Street Division has developed an asphalt-patching program
to meet the needs of our growing community. Our desire is to provide
and maintain the highest possible level of service with quality,
efficiency and safety in mind.
Spot Patching Program The purpose of spot patching is to temporarily repair City streets
until the entire street can be resurfaced or reconstructed by the Engineering Department.
During the warmer months we use "hotmix" asphalt purchased from asphalt plants in the area. However, asphalt plants close during colder months and we must then use another compound called "cold patch."
Cold patch is not as strong as hot mix and potholes patched with cold mix must be checked and repatched frequently. These potholes will be patched with hot mix as soon as it becomes available.
Spot patching is a year-round project.
In the winter and spring, three crews using "cold-patch" will be
placed in operation until ALL streets have completed.
Spot patch crews check thoroughfares and residential streets on
a cyclical basis, for spot patch needs.
Major Patching Program The purpose of major patching is to permanently repair larger areas
of damage in streets.
Examples of situations needing major patching are:
Areas where several potholes are clustered together.
Water main break repair area sinking.
Utility access cuts in street.
Areas of a street that have weakened and deteriorated.
Our Engineering Department is in charge of putting a new surface
to the entire street or to completely dig up and reconstruct the entire
street from the base to the surface. This work is typically done through
a contractor, hired by and overseen by the Engineering Department.
