Water, water everywhere — and nowhere for it to go
It came unexpectedly, measuring up to 3.7 inches in 28 minutes — probably a four or five hundred year rain event by most standards.
But this is the second excessive rainfall in a short span of time.
Seven residents attended the Ferdinand Town Council meeting Tuesday night (June 3) to issue their concerns.
Larry Mundy, who lives on West 23rd Street, spoke first.
When the rain began to fall in sheets last Friday, May 30, his back porch filled with six inches of water after encircling the house. He had similar problems the weekend of the Town Wide Yard Sale. This time the water gushed in, destroying a new floor that was installed less than four weeks ago. “The water came down like a [amusement] park ride,” he noted.
Don Farina, who lives on East 23rd, spoke next. The culvert on 23rd, which is also known as State Road 264, couldn’t contain the deluge. Water backed up into his drive and filled his carport.
When the alarm at a nearby lift station sounded, Farina knew fecal matter was mixing with the downpour. He said half a utility pole floated past and debris from a nearby farm added to the problem.
He praised town employees for their clean up efforts and noted running water can’t be contained, but suggested the State needs to do something about the culverts.
Councilman Ron Weyer agreed — Indiana Department of Transportation officials need to be notified.
Joyce Beck was up next. She manages Country Plaza Shopping Center, home of Holiday Foods. Water came in over the dock door and filled the aisles ankle-deep.
Winkler’s brought in a back hoe and Jasper Lumber will dig some ditches this week, but she implored council members, “The Town needs to do something.”
In each case, a different culprit was blamed. Mundy said the retention pond near Best Chairs wasn’t containing the water. He believes all the impervious surfaces at the furniture factory were adding to the problem. Farina thought the small state culverts, nearby agriculture and new housing starts are to blame. Beck said there were never problems at the shopping center until Dollar General was built and it’s storm water measures have never been up to snuff.
Adding insult to injury, because they aren’t in a flood plain, none of the properties carry flood insurance and repairs will be the owners’ financial responsibility.
Council President Ken Sicard explained this is why grass clippings are supposed to be contained instead of left on the street and ending up in storm sewers.
“We have all these retention ponds,” added Weyer. “We need to see if they are in working order.”
Council members agreed that while Ferdinand has one of the most stringent Stormwater Ordinances in the region, many properties were grandfathered in and only new builds must adhere to regulations.
The discussion lasted about an hour and council members will start delving into solutions as best they can. They will start by having engineer Steve Grundhoefer give his assessment.
Attorney Bill Shaneyfelt said one possible solution would be an impervious surface tax to provide funds for any solutions.
“We hear your concerns,” said Sicard, “but we don’t have an answer for you — yet.”
Meanwhile, as inclement weather seems to be a fixture in the near future, the Town will provide sandbags and sand (bring a shovel) at the compost drop off site at West 23rd and Industrial Drive. Those unable to handle this task can call Town Hall at 812-367-2280 and ask for assistance. The site is open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Property and Street Superintendent Tom Lueken will begin storm debris pick-up today (Wednesday, June 4) and continue through next Tuesday. Debris should be raked loosely to the curb (NOT in the street) and should not be bagged. Limb length should measure no more than 10 feet.
Lueken also mentioned that residents are abusing the drop-off site, leaving lots of items that cannot be composted and tossing stuff over the fence when the site is closed. He ordered signs and noted the site will be watched for violators.
In other business the council:
• Approved a Tax Abatement for MasterBrand, declaring an economic revitalization area and adopting confirmatory Resolution TA 14-C2 with Weyer abstaining since his company does work for the cabinet company.
• Heard departmental reports from all managers and approved sending three officers (Rob Randle, Brian Seffernick and Nathan Lueken) to Vincennes June 16 for required intoxilizer recertification.
• Learned the Fire Department answered 16 calls in April and 15 in May and will host a Waterball Contest June 20 at the Community Center during HeimatFest.
• Conditionally hired Lucinda Atkins from Birdseye as a part time utility bookkeeper/receptionist pending results of a drug screen. Also amended the Salary ordinance (2014-10), changing Steve Lechner’s salary and adding Atkins’.
• Heard from Town Manager Chris James the Summer recreation program began earlier in the day and Town Movie Night is Friday with a showing of Frozen (see article elsewhere in this issue for details).
• Learned from Park Board Vice President Delores Lueken the new 18th Street Park playground and exercise equipment will be installed by Folk Fest. Maddy Boeglin was hired as summer help and George Schipp for seasonal work at the parks.
• Heard Sicard will write a letter to OCRA concerning the property transfer between TTHM members and the Historical Society. While initially told to wait until grant approval, OCRA is now saying the transfer should have happened beforehand. This should be the final step to close out the project.
• Approved final change orders and acceptance of the trails project subject to Strand Engineering providing a promised electronic file.
• Heard three firms (Midwestern Engineers, Wessler and Commonwealth) provided quotes to design a phosphorus removal program with prices ranging from $8,800 to $37,000. The council will take this under advisement but will decide at a special June 25 meeting as the clock began ticking June 1 to get the plan in IDEM’s hands by the December 1 deadline.
• At that same meeting, the council will formally approve Police Chief Ricky Patton’s choice for a new officer, selecting from eight applicants.
• Approved the route for the HeimatFest 5-K Walk-Run, to be held at 8 a.m. June 21, and also plans for a Glow Run in 18th Street Park October 11, to be followed by the second and final Movie Night of 2014.
• Will meet in special session at 6 p.m. on June 25, followed by the BZA at 6:30 and Plan Commission at 7.
Town offices will close July 4 and the next regular meeting will be Tuesday, July 8.
