PRINCESS ANNE — Following days of significant precipitation the Somerset County Roads Department was been “bombarded” with calls about poor drainage and flooding and asks the public for patience.

“We’ve compiled a list and we’re attacking it as swiftly as we possibly can,” said Director Woody Barnes. “We do respond to everybody who calls,” but when it comes to roadside ditch clearing on cold days it can be a problem if spoil can’t be placed nearby.

“We can certainly bring it back to the landfill,” he explained, but when there are freezing temperatures, if there’s water spillage, “we don’t want to cause a safety hazard.”

If it’s off-road drainage, he refers it to the Department of Solid Waste and Drainage for follow-up.

Related to that is roadside trash as water-filled ditches are catching and exposing it as it floats to the top.

“A lot of that has contributed to the high water levels,” he said, “and we do receive a lot of complaints about it as well.”

While roads crews address litter when they can, what is most noticeable is the limited amount of inmate labor from either the Detention Center or ECI Annex — a symptom of the coronavirus pandemic. “For the last several months that hasn’t been attainable, so we’re addressing it, and hitting the primary roads,” Mr. Barnes said.

Civic groups, families and others are reminded that Somerset County has an Adopt A Roadway program similar to Adopt A Highway managed by the state.

Residents whether in a specific neighborhood or a school group are encouraged to organize and enlist volunteers to pickup litter at least four times per year. County Roads holds safety training sessions and provides vests and bags which crews pickup afterward.

“We encourage it,” Mr. Barnes said, and County Commissioner Vice President Charles Laird said it may be something for students to look into to get community service credit. If interested, call 410-651-1930.

County workers responded to weather events on at least four different occasions in February, applying sand on roads and conducting snow removal on Feb. 12. Mr. Barnes also said there were ditching projects on Fairmount Road, Perryhawkin Road, and Locust Point Road, and shoulder repair on Charles Cannon and Dublin roads.