Streets, Highways

How a new system in Dickinson, N.D., gives residents real-time flood alerts

By MARY JANE BOGLE | The Municipal

Most people underestimate the height of standing water in roadways and the speed at which water can rise in sudden storms. Unfortunately, that water can do real damage to vehicles—or to the drivers and passengers themselves. We’ve all seen drivers plow through standing water, waves splashing in all directions. Even worse, we’ve seen those same cars stalled in roadways—areas that were safe to travel just minutes before.

According to the National Weather Service, all it takes is 6 inches of standing water to stall a vehicle, and 12 inches of moving water is enough to sweep a car away. Those statistics are a real concern for people tasked with public safety, especially if there’s no good way to warn people about high water in real time.

Such was the case in Dickinson, N.D., at the Highway 22 railroad underpass. “Flooded vehicles were a real safety issue,” said Gary Zuroff, Dickinson Public Works director. “Our pumping system would get inundated and just couldn’t keep up with the volume of water generated by large storms at that location.”

That’s why the city decided to invest in a high-water warning system, which it installed earlier this year.

System design

High-water warning systems operate through sensors positioned at the target water level. When these sensors get wet, stainless steel electrodes meet, essentially functioning as a switch that sends power to LED warning lights, triggering them to begin flashing. The lights continue to flash until the water recedes, turning off the switch, so to speak. These sensors can also send power to a transmitter, which can communicate with a city’s supervisory control and data acquisition system.

The sensors are contained in protective housings and work in all conditions, including briny, brackish or freshwater. They even work

When a high-water warning system’s sensors get wet, stainless steel electrodes meet, essentially functioning as a switch that sends power to LED warning lights, triggering them to begin flashing. Pictured is Dickinson, N.D.’s, high-water warning system. (Photo provided)

Highway 22’s railroad underpass in Dickinson, N.D., is an area prone to flooding when the city’s pumping system gets inundated during large storms. Due to the safety risk, city officials approved the installation of a high-water warning system. (Photo via Google Maps) Drivers can often misjudge flood roadways, which can result in them becoming stranded. High-water warning systems have become a solution in areas prone to flooding since they will alert in real time to dangerous conditions, making them an improvement to traditional signage, which must be hand placed. (Shuttestock.com)

with icy, slushy conditions. And with no moving parts, the system isn’t subject to jamming, which can occur with mechanical floats. Immune to trash or debris, these systems are both automated and reliable, giving public officials confidence and peace of mind.

System at work

In Dickinson, these sensors activate electronic warning signs posted at locations to the north and south of the underpass. The signs, complete with flashing, LED lights and a written warning that the road is closed, alert approaching drivers to real-time road conditions and prevent them from driving into the high water. The system also activates Dickinson’s SCADA system, so operatives know right away that the road is unsafe for travel, even during off-hours.

“That alert gives us time to put up road closure barricades as well,” said Zuroff.

System installation

High-water warning systems can be installed with electricity or solar power. “We didn’t have any electricity in the area,” said Zuroff, “so we went with the solar option.” The public works department set the poles for the signs and installed the high-water warning system to the poles. “We then had to install the float system and the main box where the radio is located.” This radio signal is what communicates with the signs, triggering the warning system.

“Once the infrastructure was in place,” said Zuroff, “the supplier sent a technician to wire the equipment to the poles and get the radios to communicate with each other. Finally, they verified the system was working before they left.”

Cost and benefits

As with most systems, cost is determined by the number of customized features a city chooses, as well as the complexity such a system requires. Single-pole, battery-powered systems can cost as little as $3,000, while systems equipped with more than one pole, radio transmission or cameras can run as much as $30,000. It’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes as well. Dickinson opted for a system from Tapco, but a company called ELTEC offers an effective high-water warning system as well.

The real benefit to these systems, of course, is public safety. Because even seconds can make the difference between safe and unsafe roadways, immediate detection is the best way to give drivers the chance to take alternate routes. Today, thanks to the high-water warning system, Highway 22 underpass in Dickinson no longer poses that kind of threat in sudden storms.

Pickleball picks up steam at municipal parks nationwide

By AMANDA DEMSTER | The Municipal

Shutterstock.com

City parks and recreation departments in every state offer a variety of activities: baseball, softball, tennis, swimming, to name a few. One lesser-known sport has gained in popularity over the last few years, and parks departments everywhere are setting aside space so the public can enjoy it.

That sport is known as pickleball.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball has been described as a cross between ping-pong, badminton and tennis. According to the USA Pickleball Association, the court is the size of a badminton court, with a smaller version of a tennis net. Players use paddles and a plastic ball with holes. The game can be played outdoors or indoors, doubles or singles.

The ball is served underhanded, diagonally, from outside the court. After serving, the ball must bounce once in the receiving team’s court before they can return it and once in the serving team’s court. After this, it no longer has to bounce before it can be returned.

Games typically go to 11 points, though tournament play can go to 15 or 21 points. A complete description of pickleball rules and strategies is available at www.usapickleball.org.

Keystone Heights, Fla.

While the rules are the same, municipal pickleball facilities and programs are varied. Some cities simply have an outdoor court or two for the public to use during park hours. Others have state-of-the-art facilities and offer leagues, lessons and tournaments.

For Keystone Heights, pickleball is a fairly new sport. According to City Manager Lynn Rutkowski, bike trails, basketball, tennis and other activities were already available. The city also had a concrete slab intended for a skate park. However, resident feedback indicated a preference for pickleball.

Completed in January 2021, the court is standard size, with more than a dozen players using it each day.

“Once you have the concrete slab, it’s fairly easy,” she said.

Options range from painting over a concrete slab, costing approximately $2,000, to using an expensive material Rutkowski called the “Rolls Royce” of pickleball, costing tens of thousands of dollars. Keystone Heights chose to go middle-of-the-road, installing a plastic overlay onto the concrete slab, a cost of between $4,000 to $6,000.

Other than a monthly power washing, the material requires little maintenance, Rutkowski said.

As Keystone Heights plans an overhaul of its local parks this year, additional pickleball courts are a consideration, though not necessarily top priority at this time, though there have been discussions about adding one to three more courts and even hosting tournaments.

“I didn’t think pickleball would take off the way it has in this area,” Rutkowski said, adding that feedback from users has been positive.

Residents of Keystone Heights, Fla., requested a concrete slab be converted into a pickleball court, rather than be used for a skate park as originally planned. (Photo provided)

On the flip side, the city’s experience with local pickleball players has been positive.

“The pickleball population is extremely friendly,” Rutkowski said. “They’ve been grateful. Our pickleball court seems to be the least of our concerns as far as vandalism. The pickleball players are respectful of each other. It’s a fantastic addition.”

Surprise, Ariz.

Pickleball made its way to Surprise, Ariz., 12 years ago, and the program has grown.

Surprise boasts a large facility that — besides pickleball — includes tennis, racquetball and table tennis. There are currently 16 pickleball courts, with open play allowed between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and COVID guidelines in place.

Open play is currently limited to one hour per group, and players are asked to leave immediately after they have finished, ensuring proper social distancing. While the facility has loaner racquets, players are asked to bring their own for now.

Clinics, lessons, leagues and tournaments are all part of the Surprise pickleball program. According to city of Surprise Recreation Coordinator Jennifer Wright, all instructors are employees of the city. Surprise residents and nonresidents alike take advantage of the city’s pickleball offerings.

Men’s, women’s and mixed leagues cover a range of experience levels, and “Pickleball Newbies,” “Pickleball 101” and “Pickleball 202” are available for beginners.

According to Wright, user feedback has been positive.

“Players are impressed with our teaching pro and the level of play that the city leagues provide,” Wright said.

As with Keystone Heights, the pickleball courts in Surprise are lowmaintenance, receiving a monthly washing. Debris is blown from the playing surface daily.

While there is no court fee for pickleball play, lessons and other programs generate some revenue for the city annually. Outside entities A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place earlier this year to launch the Keystone Heights, Fla., pickleball court. (Photo provided)

Residents of Surprise, Ariz., enjoy a game of pickleball on one of 16 courts at the city’s racquet complex. (Photo provided)

also reserve courts for tournaments, booked through the city’s sports and tourism department.

More information about Surprise’s pickleball program is available at www.surpriseaz.gov/1430/Tennis-Racquet-Complex.