Questions on drainage answered

Jay County Commissioners received an update about drainage construction at a new apartment complex in Portland after questions were raised about a waterway that was built near the site.

Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. asked county surveyor Brad Daniels this morning about a waterway he noticed at the Katelynn Place site on West Lafayette Street in Portland and how it might affect drainage on the nearby land.

He said he did not remember seeing the outlet on the original drainage plans and said the drain looked several feet deep.

"It's only going to be used in a major rain if the detention pond overflows," Daniels said, explaining that he thought it was a temporary structure.

Daniels also noted that the waterway was constructed on land not owned by Katelynn Place. He told the commissioners he would look into it.

Daniels returned later this morning and informed the commissioners that the waterway is constructed on land owned by FCC (Indiana) which is being leased to Katelynn Place, and confirmed that the construction is temporary.

"Once the (Lafayette) street project is done, (the waterway) will be gone," he said.

Construction of the apartment complex, which is being funded by a $5.4 million grant, is expected to be completed by summer 2010. The Lafayette Street extension, which will add about a half-mile of road connecting Creagor Avenue to Industrial Park Drive, is not expected to be started until 2013.

In other business this morning, the commissioners:

•Designated Community Corrections director Yvette Weiland to appear in small claims court for any collection cases involving offenders on home detention who fail to pay their fees.

•Reappointed Roy Leverich to serve as the county's veteran affairs officer.

•Told representatives from Liberty Mutual that the county is not interested in a life insurance plan that was pitched earlier this year.[[In-content Ad]]