Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Third time is a charm.
At their third meeting since 2002 on the Armey Drain reconstruction, the Kosciusko County Drainage Board Thursday approved advertising for bids for the project and approved the new assessments for the property owners along it.
The proposed reconstruction is from Ind. 19, south of CR 1300N, going east crossing CR 1350N to Paddlebrook Pond subdivision, Nappanee. The cost estimate is approximately $54,000 and includes replacing the tile drain with a larger 24-inch drain.
The first two hearings were in September and November 2002. County surveyor Dick Kemper said at the November meeting adjustments were made to the rates to try and make them more fair. The meeting Thursday, he said, was for the setting of the new proposed rates and for a decision on whether or not to build the outlet for the drain.
"If approved," Kemper said, "we'll let bids as soon as possible and try to have it done by spring planting this year. It depends on the weather, of course."
Once the project gets started, if the weather is decent, he said it should be finished fairly quickly, possibly within weeks.
There is a good chance, Kemper said, that residents' first payment installment won't be due until November.
In another matter, Kemper said drainage inspector Mark Montel met with the Indiana Department of Transportation Wednesday regarding Ind. 19, south of Mentone, near where it intersects with CR 500S. The tile broke along the west side of Ind. 19. The tile is a county drain, but is in the state right of way. With the tile broken, flooding caused the road to erode and the state closed Ind. 19 for safety reasons.
INDOT wants to replace 1,000 feet of the drain and move it west, and wants to cost-share the project with Kosciusko County.
While the permanent fix is being worked out, the state will repair the road and drain the water.
Kemper said the ditch doesn't have much cash in its account.
Ron Truex, drainage board chairman, told Kemper to meet with INDOT and "have a real discussion and see what you can talk them into."
The tile reportedly is in poor shape. Kemper said he will see what specifically INDOT has in mind and get a cost estimate on the project.
Members of the drainage board are chairman Ron Truex, Donald Goon, Dorris Harrold, Maurice McDaniel and Eldon Watkins. They meet at 9:15 a.m. in the county courthouse, Warsaw, on the fourth Thursday of every month.
