Newsman urges county to tackle long-running stormwater problems and focus on tax-generating development

Rick Yenser, who introduced himself as a newsman, urged the commission to act on stormwater problems uncovered by recent flooding and said the county’s pattern of creating developments without adequate drainage has created recurring issues.

“When people come up here and want money for infrastructure like that, youth group did,” Yenser said, then later argued the county should “throw money at more tax paying business and industry” to broaden the tax base. He described decades-long subdivision development practices that relied on ponds rather than full storm sewers and referenced a Ball State study he said showed the region may be overbuilt on housing.

Yenser supported the commission’s decision to start mapping and remediation, saying the county needs to address drainage and infrastructure problems before future storms cause more property damage.