July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.

Commissioners favor tile replacement (5/23/05)

Work could help flooding problem east of Dunkirk

By By Mike Snyder-

Given three options to help alleviate a persistent problem with standing water in northeast Richland Township, Jay County Commissioners are leaning towards the least expensive.

The commissioners, meeting this morning as the county drainage board, balked at two price estimates for reconstruction work in the Baker-Bantz Watershed that were each more than $70,000. They instead favored an option that would use watershed maintenance funds to replace about 2,800 feet of an existing tile.

The estimates, prepared by Larry Owen, an engineer from Wells County, came at the request of Commissioners Milo Miller Jr., Gary Theurer and Faron Parr.

Several people who own houses on the east side of county road 1000 West, south of county road 400 South — including Dru and Selena Hall — approached the commissioners several months ago looking for a solution to a large problem with standing water around their homes.

Jay County surveyor Brad Daniels was asked by the commissioners to obtain cost estimates on replacing 2,800 feet of the Ackerman Tile, which begins east of county road 1000 West and runs to the west and north, eventually flowing into a 22-inch tile near county road 400 South.

Daniels and Owen estimated that the installed cost for 2,800 feet of 15-inch smooth wall plastic tile would be approximately $25,000 to $30,000.

The area directly affected by the problems related to the Ackerman and Coffin tiles is approximately 310 acres, according to figures provided by Owen. The Coffin Tile runs parallel and south of the Ackerman.

The entire Baker-Bantz Watershed is a little more than 2,200 acres. The drainage maintenance assessment of $1.75 per acre and $20 per plot generates approximately $5,500 per year.

Two reconstruction options presented by Owen carried price tags of $74,500 and $88,200. Under those options, property owners only in the affected area would be charged for a share of the work.

The two largest property owners in the affected area are Dennis Rodgers and the family of the late Harry Ford. Together, those farms comprise nearly 35 percent of the 310 acres, and would be assessed $13,446.35 and $12,231, respectively, under the $74,500 option.

“I have a hard time shoving (a combined $25,000) down somebody’s throat when they don’t have a problem. And the guy who has the problem (Hall) is only paying (about $1,800),” Miller said.

Also this morning, the commissioners agreed to once again act as the fiscal agent for a federal grant through Community and Family Services Inc.

A total of four or five counties will participate in the program, which could provide $300,000 for minor home rehabilitation projects.

The grant requires a 5 percent match. If five counties participate, the match will be $3,000. If only four participate, the match will be $3,750.

Also participating in the program are Wells and Huntington counties. Randolph County is undecided, Anita Mullen from CFS said this morning.[[In-content Ad]]
PORTLAND WEATHER

Events

November

SU
MO
TU
WE
TH
FR
SA
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30

To Submit an Event Sign in first

Today's Events

No calendar events have been scheduled for today.

250 X 250 AD