Pierceton Hears Of Flooding Concerns
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
The residents showed up to get answers from the council after many of them have had their property flooded recently. A major factor in the flooding is several old storm drains in town which are clogged, broken or do not provide enough drainage.[[In-content Ad]]"We just want to know what it will take for this to become important enough for the town of Pierceton to establish a plan for drain maintenance," said resident Carus Shaffer.
Town Attorney Jim Wallmer said the town is not responsible for fixing or maintaining the drains.
"The town does not own nor operate a storm drainage system," Wallmer said. "There is not a municipal storm drain system for the town to maintain."
Kosciusko County Surveyor Dick Kemper also attended Monday's meeting. Kemper said the drains are not part of the county drain system either. Kemper said it is likely the drains were built by area residents before 1965 when the county drainage code was written.
"When these drains were built, I don't know," said Kemper. "The county doesn't have record of it."
Shaffer said the cheapest way for himself and other residents with drainage problems to safeguard their homes is by raising the grade of their land.
"If we all bring the grade up, where will that water go? It will drain into the sanitary sewer," Shaffer said.
He said a solution needs to be found that will work for the town and for the residents.
Town Council President Jerry Kreger said for the town to establish a storm sewer system and take over the faulty drains, it would require a tax hike.
"We can do a property tax levy and pay for new storm sewers," Kreger said. "To address our storm sewer system in town, we're looking at a $3 million project."
Town resident Susan Mort said raising taxes may be what is needed.
"The problem is getting worse in this town. Eventually there won't be a town because it will be under water," said Mort. "Maybe we need to raise a tax to handle all this water. I'm running a pump every minute and a half pulling water out of my basement."
Resident Sue De La Cruz said the town needs to find a solution soon.
"If we have to do something and we have to pay taxes, let's get started," she said.
Kreger said he is not in favor of making a quick decision to raise taxes.
"We are trying to gauge what's best for the entire community. There are 450 households in Pierceton," said Kreger. "We're looking at an issue for 20 households out of 450. Is it fair for me to pass that burden on to everybody in town?"
Resident Oliver Bernstein said flood waters have risen as high as three feet on his property. He said the flooding is a problem for the whole town because it presents a danger for the whole town. Bernstein said his property floods often and the water is deep enough for young children to drown in.
"If that happens, how quickly is it going to take for everybody to jump on the band wagon and get this fixed?" Bernstein said. "Let's fix this before someone gets hurt."
Bernstein's neighbor, Mary Hartup, said the high water also provides a haven for e-coli and mosquitoes, which could affect the whole town.
"This is a health issue," Hartup said.
Kemper said there may be alternatives to building a new storm sewer system. He said the town could start a maintenance fund for the existing drains.
"I would try to at least maintain what you have before you put millions into a new storm water system," he said.
Councilman Mandy Espinoza said he and Pierceton Street Superintendent Chip Hill have been discussing possible solutions to the town's water problems over the past several months.
"It's not that we don't care," Espinoza said. "We've been working on this. It's not that we're turning our backs on you, we're checking different options."
Several town residents said with recent flooding, combined with the possibility of warmer temperatures later in the week, a solution can't come quick enough.
"For the first time in 20 years, my wife and I packed our bags at night and went to stay with my son because the water was coming up so fast," said Bernstein.
"Three times this year, within six months, my house has flooded," said Veronica Steinke.
Councilman Jerry Hartman said he plans to inspect the drains in town today with Hill.
"We'll investigate a long-term solution as well as an immediate solution," Hartman said.
The residents showed up to get answers from the council after many of them have had their property flooded recently. A major factor in the flooding is several old storm drains in town which are clogged, broken or do not provide enough drainage.[[In-content Ad]]"We just want to know what it will take for this to become important enough for the town of Pierceton to establish a plan for drain maintenance," said resident Carus Shaffer.
Town Attorney Jim Wallmer said the town is not responsible for fixing or maintaining the drains.
"The town does not own nor operate a storm drainage system," Wallmer said. "There is not a municipal storm drain system for the town to maintain."
Kosciusko County Surveyor Dick Kemper also attended Monday's meeting. Kemper said the drains are not part of the county drain system either. Kemper said it is likely the drains were built by area residents before 1965 when the county drainage code was written.
"When these drains were built, I don't know," said Kemper. "The county doesn't have record of it."
Shaffer said the cheapest way for himself and other residents with drainage problems to safeguard their homes is by raising the grade of their land.
"If we all bring the grade up, where will that water go? It will drain into the sanitary sewer," Shaffer said.
He said a solution needs to be found that will work for the town and for the residents.
Town Council President Jerry Kreger said for the town to establish a storm sewer system and take over the faulty drains, it would require a tax hike.
"We can do a property tax levy and pay for new storm sewers," Kreger said. "To address our storm sewer system in town, we're looking at a $3 million project."
Town resident Susan Mort said raising taxes may be what is needed.
"The problem is getting worse in this town. Eventually there won't be a town because it will be under water," said Mort. "Maybe we need to raise a tax to handle all this water. I'm running a pump every minute and a half pulling water out of my basement."
Resident Sue De La Cruz said the town needs to find a solution soon.
"If we have to do something and we have to pay taxes, let's get started," she said.
Kreger said he is not in favor of making a quick decision to raise taxes.
"We are trying to gauge what's best for the entire community. There are 450 households in Pierceton," said Kreger. "We're looking at an issue for 20 households out of 450. Is it fair for me to pass that burden on to everybody in town?"
Resident Oliver Bernstein said flood waters have risen as high as three feet on his property. He said the flooding is a problem for the whole town because it presents a danger for the whole town. Bernstein said his property floods often and the water is deep enough for young children to drown in.
"If that happens, how quickly is it going to take for everybody to jump on the band wagon and get this fixed?" Bernstein said. "Let's fix this before someone gets hurt."
Bernstein's neighbor, Mary Hartup, said the high water also provides a haven for e-coli and mosquitoes, which could affect the whole town.
"This is a health issue," Hartup said.
Kemper said there may be alternatives to building a new storm sewer system. He said the town could start a maintenance fund for the existing drains.
"I would try to at least maintain what you have before you put millions into a new storm water system," he said.
Councilman Mandy Espinoza said he and Pierceton Street Superintendent Chip Hill have been discussing possible solutions to the town's water problems over the past several months.
"It's not that we don't care," Espinoza said. "We've been working on this. It's not that we're turning our backs on you, we're checking different options."
Several town residents said with recent flooding, combined with the possibility of warmer temperatures later in the week, a solution can't come quick enough.
"For the first time in 20 years, my wife and I packed our bags at night and went to stay with my son because the water was coming up so fast," said Bernstein.
"Three times this year, within six months, my house has flooded," said Veronica Steinke.
Councilman Jerry Hartman said he plans to inspect the drains in town today with Hill.
"We'll investigate a long-term solution as well as an immediate solution," Hartman said.
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