📋
Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Butte County Grand Jury
• 2024-2025
Ditches, Disease, and Delay: Palermo's Flooding Failures
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 7 findings
F1
Page 44
Butte County Public Works is responsible for and can be authorized by CDFW to clean all ditches for the citizens of Butte County, including Palermo. This will ameliorate the flooding causing school closings, business losses, car accidents, street obstructions, and health hazards.
F2
Page 44
A small stormwater drainage system at Lincoln and Palermo Road is inefficient and insufficient to move water out of that area, causing potholes and risk of car accidents in this heavily trafficked area.
F3
Page 44
Palermo Citizens deserve clean, safe streets and a community that is protected from annual flooding by having ongoing maintenance of Butte County-owned infrastructure.
F4
Page 44
Palermo infrastructure improvement projects addressing flooding issues are not included in the 2024 Butte County Public Works Infrastructure Master Plan. Example: Palermo Four Corners Storm Water Drain System Project
F5
Page 44
Butte County Water Resources and Conservation Department has shown admirable initiative in trying to solve the flooding in Palermo, including an excellent study by West Yost. 43
F6
Page 45
Butte County Public Works has grant writing expertise but sometimes must also rely on outside grant writers with its implied additional expense. Other county departments rely mainly on outside grant writers but would favor using county grant writer staff who are currently overworked.
F7
Page 45
Neglect or delays in the implementation of solutions have resulted in business losses for Palermo and a lack of trust and confidence among its citizens.
Recommendations 8
-
R1Page 46By October 1, 2025 $50,000--100,000 6 Public Works District By September 30,
-
R3Page 46Public Works Annual by March 31 Staff time Public Works District
-
R4Page 46By August 1, 2025 $10,000--20,000 6
-
R5Page 46Public Works By May 1, 2026 $25,000--50,000 By October 15,
-
R6Page 46Board of Supervisors Staff time 2025 By November 1,
-
R7Page 46Board of Supervisors Staff time 2025 45 By October 31, $80,000-
-
R8Page 47Butte County 2026 120,000/year
-
R9Page 47Board of Supervisors By May 31, 2027 Staff time APPENDIX: PRIORITY DRAINAGE CLEANUP PLAN Required Action: Remove all cattails and vegetation on ditch banks and bottoms (as in 7059 Perkins Avenue) Resource Estimates: a crew of 8 from Public Works could clear approximately 10,000 feet of drainage ditch with light vegetation in 2 days. Heavy vegetation will slow progress. But the use of specialized equipment like the Rotary Ditch Cleaner GR70 or similar would significantly expedite ditch cleanup work. Summer 2025 Priority Sections (estimated lengths) 1. High Priority (800 feet) -- Perkins Ave to Palermo Ave 2. Critical Flow Path (1,300 feet) -- South Villa to Railroad Ave 3. Main Drainage (1,300 feet) -- Railroad Ave to Wyman Tributary 4. Critical Intersection Clearance of Perkins-- 20 ft upstream/downstream at: a. Palermo Rd b. Kenilworth Rd c. Williams Rd d. Ludlum Rd 46 47 Palermo is Ready to Have Their Pool Back Feather River Recreation and Parks District to the Rescue!