Commissioners want comprehensive drainage plan

The Jay County Commissioners will form a committee to look into a plan for addressing flooding in the county.
“I think we really need to take the lead on this, because this is a county-wide issue,” commissioner Doug Inman said at the commissioners’ Monday meeting. “We should probably look really hard at putting out a request for qualifications for engineering firms to come and do a comprehensive drainage plan for the entire county.”
Inman made a motion to form the committee, and commissioners Faron Parr and Jim Zimmerman agreed.
Once the committee receives information from engineering firms, further involvement will be necessary before any plan can be put into action.
“The Army Corps of Engineers has to be involved,” said county attorney Lon Racster.
The county can make proposals to the Corps, Racster said, and the Corps must approve them, which could take a long time.
During a project to clean up the bottom of the Salamonie River near the Meridian Street bridge in Portland, “It took forever to get the engineering specs through the Army Corps of Engineers and them to finally send someone out to approve us,” Racster said. “And then the other question always was, the money to do it.”
Portland mayor Randy Geesaman already plans to contact the Corps about permission for they city to widen parts of the Salamonie River where its banks have collapsed.
The committee’s makeup has not been determined, but Geesaman agreed to be part of the group later Monday at Portland’s City Council meeting (see related story). County surveyor Brad Daniels, county engineer Dan Watson, building and planning director John Hemmelgarn and at least one commissioner were also suggested as members.
A comprehensive engineering study would address concerns raised in response to Jay County Fair Board’s plan to install a new, larger storm sewer line at the fairgrounds. The board secured the last chunk of funding — up to $20,000 — for that project at Jay County Council’s July 15 meeting after getting financial commitments of $20,000 from the City of Portland and $10,000 from the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association.
Council member Jeanne Houchins said residents have asked her how the project will affect flooding in downtown Portland, and council member Ted Champ voted against funding because he wanted more information about whether the project could create additional problems.
The commissioners noted that it is difficult to agree on causes and effects of flooding, given the information currently available.
“There’s a bunch of different factors. It depends on who you talk to … why downtown Portland flooded,” Inman said.
The commissioners also:
•Heard from Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, that JCDC’s budget will remain around $195,000 to $200,000 next year, as it has the past five years. About $126,000 of that has been provided by the county.
•Listened to a presentation by Daniel Granahan and David Walke of Johnson Controls. The company may look at county-owned buildings and identify areas in which improving energy efficiency could save the county money.
•Reminded residents and business owners to report flood damage to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. A link is available on the county website at http://jaycounty.net/StormDamage2015.
There’s no guarantee of reimbursement, Parr said, but chances are better if everyone submits evidence of damage and the time and money spent on clean-up and repair.