Hamilton County Drainage Board approves J.S. McCarty Phase 2 reconstruction, to use ARPA and maintenance funds

The Hamilton County Drainage Board on June 22 unanimously approved the reconstruction of the J.S. McCarty Phase 2 segment of the William Lehr Drain, following a report and funding recommendation from Hamilton County Surveyor Gary R. Duncan, P.E.

Duncan told the board the existing tile was installed around 1900, is undersized by modern standards and has led to chronic standing water in Clarksville. The Reconstruction Report and plans prepared by Banning Engineering (Project No. 21340) call for replacing older butt-joint clay tile with larger-diameter pipe along most of the existing alignment, adding 37 feet of new drain in one short relocation and installing new manholes and road repairs where needed.

"I have made a personal inspection of the drain," Duncan wrote in the report presented to the board, and concluded the project "will improve the public health" and "will be of public utility." The estimate shows construction costs (with a 15% contingency) of $1,449,717.37, professional services of $75,000, and a total project cost of $1,524,717.37.

Duncan recommended the board use available ARPA funds as the primary funding source and to draw on maintenance funds (up to 75% of the maintenance balance under IC 36-9-27-45.5) before assessing landowners. ARPA funds available for the project were listed at $1,048,765.00; the William Lehr maintenance fund balance was $459,961.44. Per state law the costs for two county road crossings (Olio Road and Durbin Road) will be assessed to the Hamilton County Highway Department and the crossing of State Road 38 will be assessed to INDOT.

A remonstration (written objection) was noted by the Surveyor; board members asked to review the letter. The remonstration raised concerns that a single large landowner could be disproportionately affected and worried about restoration after work. The Surveyor responded that this is a tile replacement project and "the impacts aren't as extensive" as an open-ditch reconstruction. After the board recessed for the Commissioners' meeting and later reconvened, the remonstration by Otto and Elizabeth Berlin was entered into the record; the board moved to deny the objection and then voted to approve the reconstruction as presented.

Board action followed standard motions: Altman moved to deny the objection, Dillinger seconded and the motion carried unanimously; Dillinger then moved to approve the J.S. McCarty Phase 2 Reconstruction project, Altman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Per the Surveyor's report, the Drainage Board will let the project, the Surveyor's Office will manage the construction contract, and Banning Engineering will provide construction staking, grade checks and as-built drawings. The report also notes easements are within existing statutory regulated drain easements and no additional private easements are required for the work as presented.

Next steps include finalizing contract documents and mobilization; the Surveyor recommended using leftover ARPA funds from other county projects to reduce highway assessments and reliance on maintenance funds where possible.