The managers of American Self Storage, in Harlingen, Texas, are worried about the drainage ditch that adjoins their property. The ditch runs north and south off Tyler, the same street that American is located on. The problem is that the ditch is full of grass and may not drain properly in the event of a flood. (Harlingen is located next to the Rio Grande.)
Experts agree with American Self Storage's managers that the ditch needs to be cleaned. They just can't agree on who should do it: the city or the irrigation district. While the issue of a dirty ditch may seem minor, it illustrates the turf wars that can occur between local government departments when previously rural land becomes more developed and is used in different ways than it was when originally zoned.
"We've been calling since May of last year. As you can see, it's all full of grass," comments Sandy Garza, one of American Self Storage's managers, describing the ditch. "They're all ignoring us. They're all saying, 'No, it's the city. No, it's irrigation. No, it's public works.' That's all we hear." She continues, "They do cut the grass on the canal. It's the ditch they're ignoring."
Finally, someone phoned Harlingen's local ABC affiliate news station, Channel 5 in Harlingen. Within a few minutes of Channel 5's reporters phoning the irrigation district, workers arrived to inspect the ditch. The workers said they would be happy to do the work of cleaning the ditch, if someone would agree to pay the bill for the cleaning.
An unnamed director at the irrigation district office informed reporters that the irrigation district owned the ditch, but felt the city, which he said was well aware of the situation, should clean it. The Harlingen Irrigation District provides drainage, flood control and water supply services to farmers in Cameron County, where Harlingen is located. But the ditch next to American Storage, said the irrigation director, no longer provides drainage or irrigation for farmers, because there has been so much development in that area.
"It doesn't drain farm property and we have to go maintain it," he complained. "It comes out of farmers' pockets to maintain something that's somebody else's responsibility."
Channel 5 also checked with Harlingen's director of public works, Dan Serna, who said that he had not previously been informed about the ditch dispute.