INUVIK - Mary and Randy McRae are hoping their struggle with the town to fix a broken culvert in front of their home is finally over.

Every spring since the couple moved into their house on Centennial Street in 2004, they've had to deal with the culvert plugging up. As a result, it overflows onto their property. This year the situation was particularly bad as the drainage system overflowed five times.

Randy McRae stands in front of the broken culvert in front of his Centennial Street home on May 20, the day before crews from the town works office showed up to drain the ditch. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Whenever it happened Mary said she called the town's Department of Public Works to drain the passage way, and the situation was dealt with promptly.

She claims on May 12 she was told by Rick Campbell, director of public services, that the culvert is on her property and not the responsibility of the town.

Subsequently she wrote a letter to the town on May 19 reporting the incident and asking the culvert be fixed immediately.

"Find out why the water is not draining into the culvert," she wrote. "If the culvert is plugged up, as Rick Campbell admits, have it cleared of all debris, so that the water is able to flow into the culvert ... If the culvert needs to be replaced, replace it!"

Two days later a town crew arrived to drain the culvert.

The couple said they were concerned about the water flooding on their driveway and getting at the pilings. They were also worried about the safety of children playing on the street. At certain points the culvert is about four to five feet deep when filled with water.

Sara Brown, the town's senior administrative officer, said the dispute is caused by a misunderstanding. She said the culvert does belong to the town. Brown added it will be repaired this summer along with other damaged culverts in town.

The town crews inspect all culverts in Inuvik on a daily basis and if any maintenance is needed, it's done promptly, said Brown.

The McRaes said they're happy to hear the culvert will be replaced.

"That's great," said Mary. "It shouldn't be our problem. We just want them to look after their own property."