Combining watersheds questioned

Jay County Commissioners clarified why they are to combine 26 smaller watersheds into the Salamonie watershed.
Terry Robbins, rural Portland, asked commissioners this week about the plan since he pays a drainage assessment in the Hood watershed — one of the areas that will be rolled into the Salamonie watershed. He will see an increase in assessment due to the move.
Robbins wanted to make sure that the combination would not include any watersheds that are currently in debt.
“We’re not taking anything in the red,” assured commissioner Jim Zimmerman.
The commissioners also explained that the small watersheds don’t bring in much money, so if work is ever needed in those areas the watersheds can be driven deeply into debt. The combination could allow for more work to be done in those small areas in the future as well as raise money to maintain the area around the Salamonie River, into which all of the affected watersheds drain.
Commissioner Faron Parr explained Monday that when the balance in the watershed fund reaches a limit of four times the annual collections, the assessment is “shut off” and is not collected.
Many of the watersheds being considered for combination are not being collected and the Salamonie has been one of few larger watersheds that is usually in good financial standing.“Salamonie was shut off for five or eight years,” Parr said. “Your chances of it getting up high enough that it’s shut off is pretty good.”
Zimmerman also noted that haveing fewer, larger watersheds will also make it easier for the county to collect assessments each year.
After the explanation, Robbins appeared satisfied with the answers.
“As long as I’m not going into something in the red,” he said of the move.
“You’re not bailing anyone out,” said commissioner Milo Miller Jr.
A public hearing to consider the watershed combination is set for Jan. 24 at 9 a.m. in the commissioners’ room.
Affected watersheds include: Abromson, Bolen, Burkey Hilton, Daugherty, Freemyer, Glentzer, Greaf, Griesinger, Arthur Grissell, Mason Grissell, Hiatt, WM Hodge, WH Hood, P. Houts, Jones, Dorsey Louck, Maringo, Mast, Russell Briggs, Stultz, H. Taylor, O. Taylor, H. Walling, F. Walters, Williamson and Two Mile.[[In-content Ad]]