Code of Ordinances of the Village of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
Section § 305-4. Driveway culverts:

• The property owner or his/her agent must make application for a driveway culvert permit with the Community Development Department of the Village of Pleasant Prairie.
• All driveway culvert installations must be done by the Village of Pleasant Prairie Public Works Department.
• The actual cost for installation of a driveway culvert, including labor, materials and equipment, is to be charged to the property owner. If not paid when due, the invoice is placed on the next succeeding tax roll, along with interest and penalty.
  

Culvert Permit Application and process 

Proper driveway culverts are essential for managing stormwater and protecting village roadways from erosion.  A well-installed culvert allows water to flow freely, preventing flooding and keeping our road infrastructure safe. 

Key points from the Village of Pleasant Prairie Public Works Department when installing a culvert:

• Complete and submit a Residential Driveway/Culvert Application.  You can also apply online using the Village of Pleasant Prairie’s portal to apply for permit applications at Permit Applications.
• Permits may require up to 10 business days to process.  The applicant will be contacted when the permit is ready to be issued with total permit fees due and permit conditions.
• Any culvert within a Village public street will be installed/modified by the Village Public Works Department only.  The property owner will be invoiced the actual cost for the installation/modification of the culvert. 
• Upon notification that the permit application was issued, Public Works staff will create a work order for the culvert install and contact Diggers Hotline to have all underground utilities marked. Diggers Hotline needs to be given at least three business day advanced notice.  This is mandated by Wisconsin Statute 182.0175.
• Public Works crews will notify the homeowner/contractor the morning of the culvert installation to give them time to move any vehicles out on to the road before we make the driveway inaccessible.
• Public Works crews use a grade laser to establish what the current grade is for an existing ditch.  They then use a math formula to see if any improvements can be made before setting the culvert for optimal flow but within the constraints of the culverts on either side of the property. 
• Crews use an excavator to dig out and remove all the organic soils (black dirt, mud, etc.) and then fill it back in with stone to the desired grade. The stone is used to create a better base for the culvert to sit on and thus a better foundation for the new driveway that will eventually be done by the homeowner whether they use concrete, asphalt or even gravel.
• After the culvert is set to grade, crews then cover over the culvert with gravel and compact the stone which then makes the driveway accessible again for the homeowner/contractor.
• The culvert install typically only takes a few hours for completion.
• Public Works crews will finish the culvert install with any ditching if needed. If ditching is required, we dig down to just below proper grade, put the required amount of pulverized black dirt on top. We then rake in seed and cover with a straw erosion matting. This helps not only with erosion that could occur during the development stage of the grass but also keeping birds from eating the seed and retaining some moisture for the seed to grow. It is encouraged for the homeowner to water the newly seeded ditch for optimal growth.

Ditches

There is always a great deal of concern regarding roadside ditches.  One of the main functions of these ditches is to provide drainage for the road surface.  When a ditch doesn’t function properly, it is almost always because of either blockage caused by debris or improper slope.  Blockages can usually be solved by the homeowner, but when it comes to changing the grade of the pitch, please contact the Public Works Department at (262) 925-6700 during business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by email [email protected].