September 5, 2019 at 4:09 p.m.
Flooding solutions discussed
Committee will continue push to divert water, remove trestle and reconnect sewer line
Flooding solutions discussed
The advisory committee searching for solutions to flooding in downtown Portland reviewed familiar territory Wednesday morning:
•The need to divert water from Millers Branch away from downtown to the Salamonie River.
•The need to reconnect a 24-inch sewer line to send downtown storm water directly to the river.
•And the need to convince Norfolk and Southern Railway to remove its unused railroad trestle over the river which acts as a dam during periods of high water.
“This is where we ended up in May,” said retired banker and former county commissioner Barry Hudson, voicing frustration. “So we’re back to May 2.”
But the committee — it includes city and county officials as well as downtown property owners — agreed by consensus to keep pushing on all three fronts.
While a plan suggested by the Army Corps of Engineers to run a 40-foot wide open ditch across Jay County Fairgrounds and two other properties has been rejected out of hand, the committee would like to see a 4-foot diameter tile buried following the same route to connect Millers Branch with Cartwright Ditch east of the fairgrounds.
The corps has said a buried tile or tube would be cost prohibitive, but the committee still believes that’s the best option when it comes to diverting storm water away from downtown.
“An open ditch is not acceptable to the fair board or the engine association,” said longtime fair board member Bob Lyons. The proposal from the corps would also cross land east of the fairgrounds owned by the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association and farmland owned by Tom Homan.
“None of the three property owners are going to sign off” on an open ditch, said Lyons.
•The need to divert water from Millers Branch away from downtown to the Salamonie River.
•The need to reconnect a 24-inch sewer line to send downtown storm water directly to the river.
•And the need to convince Norfolk and Southern Railway to remove its unused railroad trestle over the river which acts as a dam during periods of high water.
“This is where we ended up in May,” said retired banker and former county commissioner Barry Hudson, voicing frustration. “So we’re back to May 2.”
But the committee — it includes city and county officials as well as downtown property owners — agreed by consensus to keep pushing on all three fronts.
While a plan suggested by the Army Corps of Engineers to run a 40-foot wide open ditch across Jay County Fairgrounds and two other properties has been rejected out of hand, the committee would like to see a 4-foot diameter tile buried following the same route to connect Millers Branch with Cartwright Ditch east of the fairgrounds.
The corps has said a buried tile or tube would be cost prohibitive, but the committee still believes that’s the best option when it comes to diverting storm water away from downtown.
“An open ditch is not acceptable to the fair board or the engine association,” said longtime fair board member Bob Lyons. The proposal from the corps would also cross land east of the fairgrounds owned by the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association and farmland owned by Tom Homan.
“None of the three property owners are going to sign off” on an open ditch, said Lyons.
Hudson and Jay County surveyor Brad Daniels suggested using the same route for a 4-foot drainage tube.
To see if that’s feasible, the city will ask the corps to develop plans and cost estimates for the original open ditch but also to develop cost estimates for a buried tube.
“Our proposal is to bury it,” said Hudson.
But it’s unclear how much financial assistance the federal government would provide under those circumstances. And it’s unclear whether by accepting federal assistance local government would be required to comply with federal contracting standards and requirements.
Local officials believe the work could be done more affordably by using local contractors.
“You want to get as much money as you can get (from the corps) with the minimum number of strings attached,” said committee member John Moore. “The worst thing that could happen is they give us no money.”
The three property owners will be approached about giving permission to allow corps employees to walk the ground and take soil samples as plans are developed, but with an understanding that an open ditch is not going to happen.
Meanwhile, Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman was expected to meet with Indiana Department of Transportation officials today to discuss a proposed U.S. 27 (Meridian Street) project in downtown Portland and will press for reconnecting a 24-inch sewer line.
Geesaman said INDOT disconnected the line about 20 years ago during another U.S. 27 project. By doing so, the state directed storm water to Millers Branch.
The line originally took that storm water directly to the Salamonie. The change is considered a major factor in downtown flooding during periods of heavy rain.
Reconnecting the sewer line, said Geesaman, “would take pressure off the Miller Branch.” While the 24-inch sewer line does have some cracks, he said, it should be possible to insert a sleeve to handle the storm water after things are reconnected.
Unfortunately, said Geesaman, though the state is responsible for the problem INDOT doesn’t want to share the cost of fixing it.
The mayor also said he’s had no luck in convincing Norfolk and Southern to remove its railroad trestle, which has not been used in decades.
Geesaman said 729 structures with an assessed valuation of $64.5 million are affected by the trestle’s impact on the river during times of heavy rain.
Local estimates are that it would cost $137,000 to remove the trestle, which acts as a dam on the Salamonie, but the railroad is unresponsive.
“We’ll even write the check, but so far the railroad won’t budge,” he said.
State representative J.D. Prescott, attending the meeting, said the state would like to help with flood control efforts but added, “Our hands are really tied until the plans are finalized. … I’m kind of in a holding pattern.”
To see if that’s feasible, the city will ask the corps to develop plans and cost estimates for the original open ditch but also to develop cost estimates for a buried tube.
“Our proposal is to bury it,” said Hudson.
But it’s unclear how much financial assistance the federal government would provide under those circumstances. And it’s unclear whether by accepting federal assistance local government would be required to comply with federal contracting standards and requirements.
Local officials believe the work could be done more affordably by using local contractors.
“You want to get as much money as you can get (from the corps) with the minimum number of strings attached,” said committee member John Moore. “The worst thing that could happen is they give us no money.”
The three property owners will be approached about giving permission to allow corps employees to walk the ground and take soil samples as plans are developed, but with an understanding that an open ditch is not going to happen.
Meanwhile, Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman was expected to meet with Indiana Department of Transportation officials today to discuss a proposed U.S. 27 (Meridian Street) project in downtown Portland and will press for reconnecting a 24-inch sewer line.
Geesaman said INDOT disconnected the line about 20 years ago during another U.S. 27 project. By doing so, the state directed storm water to Millers Branch.
The line originally took that storm water directly to the Salamonie. The change is considered a major factor in downtown flooding during periods of heavy rain.
Reconnecting the sewer line, said Geesaman, “would take pressure off the Miller Branch.” While the 24-inch sewer line does have some cracks, he said, it should be possible to insert a sleeve to handle the storm water after things are reconnected.
Unfortunately, said Geesaman, though the state is responsible for the problem INDOT doesn’t want to share the cost of fixing it.
The mayor also said he’s had no luck in convincing Norfolk and Southern to remove its railroad trestle, which has not been used in decades.
Geesaman said 729 structures with an assessed valuation of $64.5 million are affected by the trestle’s impact on the river during times of heavy rain.
Local estimates are that it would cost $137,000 to remove the trestle, which acts as a dam on the Salamonie, but the railroad is unresponsive.
“We’ll even write the check, but so far the railroad won’t budge,” he said.
State representative J.D. Prescott, attending the meeting, said the state would like to help with flood control efforts but added, “Our hands are really tied until the plans are finalized. … I’m kind of in a holding pattern.”
Top Stories
9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit
Chartwells marketing
September 17, 2024 7:36 a.m.
Events
250 X 250 AD