Ferdinand Town Council: Looking for (but not finding) solutions
It’s been a topic of concern since 2014 — and there doesn’t seem to be any resolution.
That was the first year Larry and Kathy Mundy’s West 23rd Street home flooded — almost immediately after the couple installed new carpet throughout. They replaced the carpet with laminate after the flood and it flooded yet again. Since 2014 the Mundys have suffered through eight rain events, the last six rising to the level of the house but not spilling in.
They, along with neighbor Steve Schwoeppe, attended the Ferdinand Town Council’s special March 21 meeting since top of the agenda was awarding the contract to replace the concrete street with asphalt. As part of an exploration on how best to replace the surface of 23rd Street, council members hired Universal Design’s civil engineer, Bethany Hopf and project lead, Brett Schipp to try to determine what is happening to cause the flooding while they were also scoping the re-paving project.
The discussion was lengthy and will not be repeated verbatim here. Essentially, neither Schwoeppe nor the Mundys could figure out why the Mundys’ backyard tended to flood. Neither could the experts. According to Hopf, the road as it exists was designed to handle a 50 year flood and the water should reach the center height of the road before flowing away.
“So you’re saying the last four years of 50 year rains, if this pattern continues we’re pretty much screwed?” questioned Kathy Mundy.
“The reason the town paid for study,” explained Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken, “is because of your problem. We hired the engineer to calculate the problems. I’m not an engineer, I’m not capable of doing that of doing that.”
“And we agreed,” added Councilman Ron Weyer. “We did our due diligence.”
“I don’t think we have an answer you guys will like,” said Council President Ken Sicard. “We have no control over the ditches at all.”
Which may be part of the problem.
“The town does not control the ditches at all,” Sicard explained. “I’m sorry, we really had our hopes up [that the town could fix the problem].”
Council members (Councilwoman Debbie Johnson was absent) then turned to the business at hand, namely awarded the bid to repair West 23rd Street. The lone bid came from Knies Construction in Jasper. Schipp had reviewed the bid documents and recommended the council accept the bid and issue a notice to proceed. The bid was for $364,715, 75% (or $273,536.25 to be paid from the Community Crossings Fund state grant issued last autumn).
Knies will remove the concrete, crush it and use for to fill soft soil spots and for future projects. It will be stored at the limb site at the end of 23rd Street, making it very convenient to access.
Lueken gave kudos to Universal Design. “These guys were great, they have really been there (for me).”
During the meeting the council also approved compliance documents for a real estate abatement granted to Dakota Begle, who built the new apartments on the north side of the bypass. According to Town Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt, the Begle’s were in substantial compliance — they met the requirements of the tax abatement — and recommended approval.
“Whenever you’re ready to start on the second phase let us know,” Sicard told Dakota’s father, Randy Begle who was present to answer any questions.
The next regular Ferdinand Town Council meeting is set for Tuesday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. The Economic Development Commission will meet at 7 a.m. that same day. The BZA and Plan Commission rescheduled their meetings due to Holy Week, and will meet at 6:30 and 7 p.m. respectively on Wednesday, April 4 and the Park Board will meet that same day at 4:30 p.m.
