West Ville Platte resident seeks solution to drainage problem

Herman Alfred shows where a city street crew removed debris clogging drainage pipes, causing flooding in his west Ville Platte neighborhood, near the corner of Clement Street and Freddie Dunn Street. Alfred said the problem started several years ago when the city overlaid streets there with asphalt, covering what had been open ditches that more efficiently drained water after heavy rains into a nearby canal. He said heavy rains turn yards into swamps, resulting in children having to play in the streets.