Winona Residents Voice Flooding Concerns
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The flooding is in Country Garden Subdivision on Peach Tree Lane.
Public Works Director Pete O'Connell said there is a ditch and retention pond behind the homes to catch water runoff. He said he thinks the ditch is clogged and needs to be opened, and new pipes may be needed to prevent future flooding.[[In-content Ad]]"With the recent flooding, there was so much water that the retention ponds filled up, causing flooding," O'Connell said.
Lynda Prater, 104 Peach Tree Lane, said the backed-up ditch is causing flooding behind her home. She said her home was built four years ago, and she has previously experienced flooding on her property.
O'Connell said he went out last summer to the home to unclog the ditch.
"The ditch has been a problem even in normal rains," O'Connell said.
He said he looked at the ditch recently with Town Coordinator Craig Allebach and councilman Terry Howie.
"The drain needs to be fixed, we can't just put it off and say we will fix it next year," O'Connell said.
He said the town will look at replacing the drain this spring when the weather is better.
Kerrie Walls, 103 Peach Tree Lane, lives across the street from the Prater's and said she also has problems with flooding behind her home. Walls showed pictures of the flooding behind her home and her neighbor Dean Um's home.
She said she has had sandbags around her home since January to prevent water from getting into her home.
She said her home was built in 2000, and her property has always been spongy and wet and gotten worse in the past two to three years.
"My concern is that waiting until spring to fix the drain will not solve the problem now because it is just as wet and damp in the spring, and I am not sure the town will fix the drain then," Walls said.
Um, 105 Peach Tree Lane, who lives next to the Prater's, said the backyard of his property is flooded and his swing set is ruined. He also said his basement has flooded and he is worried drywall in his home will be ruined.
He said he contacted Kosciusko Emergency Management Services and Homeland Security regarding the flooding. Homeland Security came to his home to assess the flooding.
In other business, Councilwoman Sue Gooding was sworn in by Jim Walmer.
Gooding was elected during a caucus Jan. 26 at the Kosciusko County Courthouse by the Republican Central Committee.
Gooding replaces Dave Delp, District 4, who announced his resignation during the Jan. 8 council meeting. Delp said he is moving to another district in Winona Lake, and will no longer serve on the council.
Delp was honored with a plaque for his eight years of service on the council.
"I will miss serving on the council because it has been a great experience and I have learned a lot about government," Delp said.
Council President Joy Lohse said she has heard concerns with NIPSCO leaving tree limbs in the town's streets and going on residents properties to cut tree limbs.
She said she will talk with Allebach about contacting NIPSCO regarding the company leaving behind tree limbs and cutting trees on resident's properties that have not been approved by the town council.
Also during the meeting, councilman James Lancaster recommended the council consider holding a quarterly meeting that would be open to the public to express concerns and get information on upcoming projects in the town.
Lancaster said the council would not vote on issues at the quarterly meeting, but the meeting would provide an opportunity for residents to attend and ask questions.
"The meeting would allow us to inform residents what is going on in the town and get a better idea of what our residents' concerns are," Howie said.
The council approved signing a conflict of interest statement for Howie, owner of Terry Howie Heating & Cooling, in instances of him doing business with the town.
Upcoming events in the town include Symphony of the Lakes concert "Music for All Times" Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium; Fort Wayne Museum of Art featuring the Village at Winona Art and Artists Feb. 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; and a Chocolate March in the Village at Winona March 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where various chocolates will be available for sale at shops in the village.
The flooding is in Country Garden Subdivision on Peach Tree Lane.
Public Works Director Pete O'Connell said there is a ditch and retention pond behind the homes to catch water runoff. He said he thinks the ditch is clogged and needs to be opened, and new pipes may be needed to prevent future flooding.[[In-content Ad]]"With the recent flooding, there was so much water that the retention ponds filled up, causing flooding," O'Connell said.
Lynda Prater, 104 Peach Tree Lane, said the backed-up ditch is causing flooding behind her home. She said her home was built four years ago, and she has previously experienced flooding on her property.
O'Connell said he went out last summer to the home to unclog the ditch.
"The ditch has been a problem even in normal rains," O'Connell said.
He said he looked at the ditch recently with Town Coordinator Craig Allebach and councilman Terry Howie.
"The drain needs to be fixed, we can't just put it off and say we will fix it next year," O'Connell said.
He said the town will look at replacing the drain this spring when the weather is better.
Kerrie Walls, 103 Peach Tree Lane, lives across the street from the Prater's and said she also has problems with flooding behind her home. Walls showed pictures of the flooding behind her home and her neighbor Dean Um's home.
She said she has had sandbags around her home since January to prevent water from getting into her home.
She said her home was built in 2000, and her property has always been spongy and wet and gotten worse in the past two to three years.
"My concern is that waiting until spring to fix the drain will not solve the problem now because it is just as wet and damp in the spring, and I am not sure the town will fix the drain then," Walls said.
Um, 105 Peach Tree Lane, who lives next to the Prater's, said the backyard of his property is flooded and his swing set is ruined. He also said his basement has flooded and he is worried drywall in his home will be ruined.
He said he contacted Kosciusko Emergency Management Services and Homeland Security regarding the flooding. Homeland Security came to his home to assess the flooding.
In other business, Councilwoman Sue Gooding was sworn in by Jim Walmer.
Gooding was elected during a caucus Jan. 26 at the Kosciusko County Courthouse by the Republican Central Committee.
Gooding replaces Dave Delp, District 4, who announced his resignation during the Jan. 8 council meeting. Delp said he is moving to another district in Winona Lake, and will no longer serve on the council.
Delp was honored with a plaque for his eight years of service on the council.
"I will miss serving on the council because it has been a great experience and I have learned a lot about government," Delp said.
Council President Joy Lohse said she has heard concerns with NIPSCO leaving tree limbs in the town's streets and going on residents properties to cut tree limbs.
She said she will talk with Allebach about contacting NIPSCO regarding the company leaving behind tree limbs and cutting trees on resident's properties that have not been approved by the town council.
Also during the meeting, councilman James Lancaster recommended the council consider holding a quarterly meeting that would be open to the public to express concerns and get information on upcoming projects in the town.
Lancaster said the council would not vote on issues at the quarterly meeting, but the meeting would provide an opportunity for residents to attend and ask questions.
"The meeting would allow us to inform residents what is going on in the town and get a better idea of what our residents' concerns are," Howie said.
The council approved signing a conflict of interest statement for Howie, owner of Terry Howie Heating & Cooling, in instances of him doing business with the town.
Upcoming events in the town include Symphony of the Lakes concert "Music for All Times" Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium; Fort Wayne Museum of Art featuring the Village at Winona Art and Artists Feb. 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.; and a Chocolate March in the Village at Winona March 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where various chocolates will be available for sale at shops in the village.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092