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To gather more information, the Kosciusko County Drainage Board Thursday tabled the hearing on the Walter Phillips Drain reconstruction to Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. in the Kosciusko County courthouse.
More than 30 people attended the meeting Thursday - some in favor of the reconstruction, others adamantly opposed.
Eight landowners in the Flagstone Terrace Subdivision filed the petition with the drainage board to reconstruct the drain. The drain is in the area of Flagstone Terrace and Woodfield Estates between Country Club Road and Winona Lake.
The project would include installing 1,050 feet of 18-inch pipe, 1,900 feet of 24-inch pipe and construction of 700 feet of open drain. Manholes and catch basins would be installed on both sides of Tulip Tree, Sycamore, Pink Magnolia, Winona Beach and Beech drives and Redwood Road. The drain would serve as an outlet for the 102.87-acre watershed area. Reshaping and restoring roadside ditches would also be required for efficient drainage of storm water.
Estimated cost of the construction is $76,274. Three rates would be established to pay for the cost and the rates are based on the cost of construction.
Rate one would be $3,407.12 per acre and would cover the area delineated as a buffer, approximately 200 feet along the proposed drain within the residential, platted areas. Rate 1 property owners will pay for 75 percent of the total estimated cost.
Rate 2, at $342.19 per acre, covers the remaining platted residential subdivision areas of Flagstone Terrace and Woodfield Estates. Property owners in the rate 2 area will pay 20 percent of the total estimated cost.
At $91.90 per acre, rate 3 covers the agricultural and wooded wetland areas. Five percent of the total cost will be covered by the rate 3 property owners.
Pipe used in the reconstruction would be solid, nonperforated drainpipe, which would eliminate the risk of plugging, according to county surveyor Richard Kemper. He said the negative side is that groundwater levels may not be as significantly affected as with perforated pipe. Also, the lower 700 feet of the drain is closed and part of the proposal requires that 700 feet to become open ditch.
A maintenance fund was never established on the drain. "No one ever paid a single penny to maintain this drain," said Kemper.
Drainage problems in the area have existed for numerous years, he said, and the board has received many calls about the problems.
From an engineering standpoint, he said, "this is not our usual and normal ideal construction we would normally do."
The drainage board's "big dilemma is addressing the cost-versus-benefit ratio."
If the drainage board were to approve the reconstruction, Kemper said, landowners can pay in 10 installments over a five-year period. However, after the first year, there is a 10 percent interest on the balance.
Several letters of remonstrance were sent to the drainage board regarding the reconstruction and Kemper read those names before the meeting was opened for public comment.
James Breske, East Sycamore Drive, said he was in favor of the project. His sump pump runs constantly and the road is flooded half of the year, he said.
Carol Savage, East Sycamore Drive, said she has trouble with her basement flooding. The flooding causes huge holes in the ground and her mailman complains to her about the mud from the flooding.
"In wintertime, it gets so icy," she said.
Several other residents of the area also complained about the flooding onto their properties and into their homes.
"It's definitely a problem," said Brad Bibler, East Sycamore Drive.
When asked by Kevin Stewart about a maintenance fund, Kemper said if the reconstruction is approved and completed, an annual maintenance fund would need to be established. However, a public hearing would be held first to establish rates.
Steve Snyder, attorney representing Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ralston, East Pink Magnolia Drive, said the reconstruction has no benefit to the Ralstons and thus they should not have to be assessed any rate.
"The Ralstons receive absolutely no benefit from this drain," Snyder said. He presented the board with an engineering report showing the Ralstons would not receive any benefit.
Rodney Carey, South Oak Street, also said the reconstruction was not going to benefit him. Instead, he said, the reconstruction would add water onto his property.
"The problem shouldn't be ours. We shouldn't have to pay taxes because it's not going to help us," he said.
Dorothy Bush, South Oak Street, agreed. "You're getting rid of their problem and making it our problem."
Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said if the reconstruction is approved, the county highway department will have only minor side ditch improvements to do throughout Flagstone Terrace.
However, if the reconstruction is not approved, because a flood problem already exists, the highway department will have to raise Tulip Tree and Sycamore drives and do some curb and gutter work. Not only will that cost more, but the water will potentially run off onto the area residents' properties.
Members of the drainage board are chairwoman Avis Gunter, Donald Goon, Dorris Harrold, Maurice McDaniel and Eldon Watkins. They meet at 9:30 a.m. on the fourth Thursday of every month in the Kosciusko County courthouse, Warsaw.
