Nine properties in Park Ridge will have swales put in to help protect roads from water damage and deterioration as the Village Board continues looking at future options for road repairs and drainage.

Village Board members unanimously approved awarding the swaling, topsoil and seeding project to Stuczynski Trucking and Excavating Inc., Stevens Point, Monday, June 20. While there are areas throughout the village that need the attention, the board determined the most significantly impacted areas – nine of them – should be done first.

The total cost of the nine properties is $14,250, but the village is not committed to doing all nine properties if officials determine fewer should be completed. The proposal amount does not include any tree removal. Lots with trees in the right-of-way would only get swaled between the trees and roadway.

A swale is a narrow or shallow piece of land or a trough-like depression that carries water, usually during rainstorms or snow melting.

Putting swales in specific properties along the roads will allow rainwater and melting snow an area to travel rather than gathering in depressions along the roadway or at intersections, causing deterioration and eventually contributing to the need for extensive road repairs.

The village currently does not have any drainage ditching along roads; drainage and future plans related to it are issues the village’s newly-formed Strategic Planning Committee will undertake yet this year.

“The fact that (Stuczynski) has done the job in Whiting gives me confidence that they know what all needs to be done,” Board President Kathy Budelier said. “If we do these, next year we will have a very good idea of the impact.”

Some property owners have already been contacted about the swaling and the effect it would have on standing water and drainage. Village officials will again be contacting land owners personally to discuss the issue before notifying the entire village of the project.

In conjunction with this project, the village plans to pen a drainage/right-of-way ordinance specifically identifying the village’s right to do such projects.

“We need to get some language that we have a right to do this,” Budelier said, “but if they do something to the swale that prevents drainage” the village would not be responsible. “We’re doing this to help protect the roads.”

Board member Gordon Renfert questioned what the village would do if a property owner preferred to create a rain garden to assist with the drainage. That would require a deeper and more extensive “swale,” but village officials said they would be willing to work with individual property owners.

The swales will be between 8 and 15 inches wide from the edge of the roadway into the property and between 2 and 6 inches deep. The first nine areas targeted include the intersection of Ridgewood and Sunset, intersection of Oakcrest and Sunset, Hillcrest between Fieldcrest and Sunrise, Maplewood, Linwood between Oakcrest and Maplewood, Sunrise between Hillcrest and Ferndale, Greenbriar near Park Ridge Drive, Linwood between Park Ridge Drive and Crestwood, and the intersection of Sunset and Crestwood.

Village Board members also approved those who voiced interest in being part of the Strategic Planning Committee. Members include residents Brian Kozlowski, Lee Bendtsen, Dan Holloway, Steve Bergin, and board member Randy Busch.