City and conservation service officials said residents andbusinesses near Halbert Heights subdivision can rest a littleeasier following completion of an erosion control project for amajor drainage ditch for the area.

City officials and conservation officers met Tuesday to inspectthe completed drainage ditch off Halbert Heights Road.

“A lot of people have made good compliments about us stabilizingthis ditch,” said Greg Brinson, Natural Resources ConservationService district conservation officer.

Mayor Bob Massengill, City Clerk Michael Jinks, AreaConservationist Wesley Kerr, State Conservationist Homer Wilkes andBrinson were pleased with the work.

“It was put on a fast track because of the threat to utilitiesto the public,” Brinson said.

Massengill approached the NRCS last fall to see about assistancewith the erosion problem, Brinson said. The project began in earlyspring and was completed by the end of May.

“We came for final inspection and to turn it over to the cityfor future maintenance,” Kerr said.

The total cost of the project was $550,000. The city wasresponsible for 15 percent and the NRCS, 85 percent.

“The city took care of a lot of the work such as surveying,inspecting and the design, Brinson said.

Kerr said that as development takes place, the drainage of anarea is affected.

“The city has done a good job of maintaining the width of theditch for sufficient carry,” he said. “It drains 85 percent of thecity’s outlets through here.”

The funds for the ditch project came partially from theEmergency Watershed Protection Program. For an area to qualify forthese funds public utilities must be at danger, Kerr said.

“Several exposed sewage lines and light poles that were losingsupport as the erosion continued qualified the city for theprogram,” Brinson said.

If the ditch was not repaired several businesses and homes wouldhave eventually been at risk, Kerr said.