What is a drainage and utility easement?
A. Typically, there is a five foot wide easement on each side of the property line between properties and a ten foot wide easement adjacent to the right-of-way. It gives the City and the private utility companies the right to install and maintain underground or aboveground utilities (water main, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, telephone lines, gas lines, power lines, CATV lines) and overland drainage ways. A drainage problem involving public streets, storm water inlets, storm sewers, or drainage ditches should be reported to the Public Works Street Department at 320-356-7922. If the drainage problem is on private property, the home owner will need to determine how to correct the problem. The responsiblility to do the correction is that of the property owner.
