City work on private drive in Huntingburg has some residents upset
An e-mail from George Lewallen asking why the city was working on a private street was received over the weekend and a Letter to the Editor basically asking the same question was submitted to the Dubois County Free Press yesterday.
An answer was supplied from Mayor Marvin Belcher stating the city was attempting to fix a situation created seven to eight years ago when a sanitary sewer line was added to service the residents of the street.
According to residents on the street the city tore up the private road when they put in the new line. The road had been a gravel road that required additional rock being added and grading about every two years. When the city put in the new sewer line a cap of dirt was placed over the new line and then gravel placed on top.
The residents state that since this repair was completed the road typically turns into a muddy mess when it rains and the dirt moves to the surface. This has also added to the propensity for rutting and potholes.
A 30 year resident of the street, Marvin Knies, stated that then-Mayor Gail Kemp had stated the city would repair the road and the city did come out and spread more rock over the gravel road about two years after the new line was put in. It was indicated at the time that the city would continue to be responsible for the repairs.
The road has continued to deteriorate over the years and Mr. Knies informed Council at Large Marvin Boeglin of the situation. Boeglin took the issue to Mayor Belcher. “It had a few potholes, but the sides ot the road were in good shape. I told Marv (Boeglin) we can’t spend money out here and grade this road and all that. We can just come out here and put a couple of loads of rock out here and that’s all we can do.”
Mayor Belcher stated that two dump truck loads of rock were put on the road and spread out. The rock cost approximately $500 to the city and was taken from the city’s supply. [quote style=”boxed”]”To me it was the city’s right-of-way, we have an easement for the sanitary sewer. We were just taking care of our easement.” Huntingburg Mayor Marvin Belcher[/quote]
Belcher stated the road is less than a block away from city limits and the city has been trying to annex the area for a while, however the waterlines are owned by St. Henry Water and can’t handle the pressure of the city pumper trucks for fire protection.
Belcher explained. “They can handle the pressure going out but when we hook up a pumper truck the lines will collapse.”
For the city to annex an area they must be able to provide all services and although the city already provides electric, gas, and sewer to the area, the water has held up the annexation. Additionally a USDA rural development loan has stopped the city. The loan must be paid off before the city can complete an annexation of the area.
“It was the right thing to do.” Belcher stated. “This stuff is coming because they (Mr. Lewallen) want to use the media to attack Janet (Kemp) and she didn’t even know about us doing this. Those people out there can’t even vote.”
If Mr. Yewallen is worried about $500.00 where was he when Mr. Gale Kemp ordered blacktop for the parking lot at the Event Center and city tax payer paid for it. If I remember it was about $40,000.
To Mr. Fay
I believe the event center is in the corporate limits and certainly not private property. Oh, and I have been in Huntingburg for the past 55 years.
I think that at the mayoral forum they asked both the candidates if they would take the event center if it was offered to the city. Doesn't that mean it's privately owned right now?
I think Jeremy hit the nail on the head about this being privately owned right and that was ask at the mayoral forum. Mr . Lewallen you should remember that you were there I think I saw you.
Dubois Co. property records indicate the Event Center is owned by the Huntingburg Foundation, a charitable non-profit organization. I concede that it is not owned by the city but then it is not owned by a private individual and it is in the city limits.
Correct me if im wrong At the time the lake was being built the property was owned by a private individual The land was later purchased by the city at a later date.
To Mr. Fay
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you agree that city resources should not be used on private property.
Not to speak for Ray, but it sounded to me like his main issue was the hypocrisy of being upset about a $500 expense today while not shedding a tear over a $40,000 expense paid out under a mayor you liked better – not the use of city resources.
But maybe that's just how I read it.
Well perhaps your analogy about hypocrisy would work for both of us, would it not? But maybe that's just how I read it.
We will all pay for the roads in the area one way or the other.
That is right Mr.Lewallen the event center is not owned by the city. But why did Gale Kemp at the time he was mayor paid $172,000 of the city money to pave the parking lot of the event center. But that was ok but $500 for two loads rock on a road that the city has a easement in is not ok.