Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Flagstone Terrace residents attended the Kosciusko County drainage board meeting for the second month regarding reconstruction of the Walter Phillips drain.
Located east of Country Club Road, the residential subdivision, south of Winona Beach Drive and Winona Lake, has a lot of standing water throughout the year.
Eight Flagstone Terrace landowners recently filed a petition with the board to reconstruct the drain. They found out Thursday a private drain may run through the subdivision from 110 feet east of Tulip Tree, north through Sycamore and then may turn to the west to White Pine, according to Kosciusko County highway superintendent Rob Ladson.
Ladson introduced highway employee Warren Greenwald, who has been investigating the area and said the highway department plans to re-establish side ditches along the streets around the end of March or beginning of April. These costs would come from Motor Vehicle Highway accounts and not cost the residents there anything except what they've already paid in gas tax.
Ladson said his department plans to discover the exact location and length of the private drain.
The drain is indicated in 1938 aerial photography when the land was farmed.
One resident said he is sure the tile has been cemented shut.
Discovery of the private drain may involve the use of a powerful "jetter," which will shoot water 700 feet and could possibly, Ladson said, force water into people's basements.
Greenwald said the ground is saturated on both sides of White Pine and he suspects the private tile is blocked there.
Costs to reconstruct the county drain are estimated at $76,274. The drain would serve as an outlet for the 102.87-acre watershed area.
Projects include installation of an 18-inch, 1,050-foot-long 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.
Resident Mike Cox urged the board to take another look at the rate structure. As it stands, three assessment rates have been established, with rate one landowners paying $3,407 per acre; rate two paying $342 per acre and rate three paying $92 per acre.
A maintenance fund was never established on the drain, according to county surveyor Richard Kemper.
Board members continued the item until next month.
In other business the board:
• Approved a variance requested by the Mentone Christian Fellowship Church on lots 32 and 33 in Atwood. The construction is near Pole Run drain.
• Received information on the Preston Miles open drain, north of Milford and west of Ind. 15. The ditch runs into Elkhart County. The board there does not want to create a joint drain.
Annual maintenance would be $3,500 per year to clear 9,150 feet.
With a minimum of $5 per residential acre, 41.24 per agricultural acre and $7.75 for industrial and commercial acres, the fund would raise $3,955 per year.
Kosciusko County Drainage Board members are Avis Gunter, Donald Goon, Dorris Harrold, Maurice McDaniel and Eldon Watkins.
The next meeting is March 28.
