Published: May 08, 2008 11:06 am            

Clark County Commissioners want second opinion on drainage issues

Sunset Hills’ residents, who have been seeking relief from drainage issues plaguing their homes, learned Wednesday that a second opinion on how to fix the problem will be sought from County Surveyor Bob Isgrigg, under the direction of the Clark County Commissioners.

Dan Moore, the commissioners attorney, Dustin White, the drainage board attorney, and Doug Bates, the attorney for Isgrigg, met to discuss the issues surrounding the drainage situation and the direction to take to address problems residents are having. The attorneys ultimately decided to allow Isgrigg to complete a report of the homes facing drainage issues and submit it to the commissioners.

“We have Dixon’s (drainage board engineer) report and a county surveyor who has a different view,” Dan Moore said. “My

recommendation is that Isgrigg have access to the property and do a written report.

“(Commissioners) are creating certain obligations and certain liabilities with the work a contractor might do.”

Commissioners Mike Moore and Ed Meyer approved plans to allow a contractor to fix drainage issues in Sunset Hills at a previous meeting. But at Thursday’s commissioners meeting, Meyer and Commissioner Ralph Guthrie decided against signing the contract, due to legal concerns brought up by Isgrigg.

The decision to allow Isgrigg to investigate the subdivision came after the attorneys came to a consensus on the matter.

“I think it’s a good step in the process,” Dan Moore said.

On Thursday, the commissioners recessed the meeting so that it could be continued Wednesday to discuss issues brought up by Isgrigg regarding the legality of the Clark County Drainage Board going ahead with a contractor to fix drainage issues outlined by Dixon. Isgrigg and Bates said that certain Indiana codes were not properly followed in allowing work to proceed without the consent of the county surveyor, Isgrigg.

“The process is good,” Isgrigg said. “The attorneys today came to the conclusion that I have that authority.”

Now Isgrigg will have the opportunity to complete a report in addition to Dixon’s report on the drainage issues facing residents of Sunset Hills. Meyer said he hoped, if it is possible, to see the report at the next commissioners meeting on May 14.

Isgrigg will need written consent from homeowners allowing him access to their property, though a means to inform Sunset Hills’ residents to provide that consent was not discussed at the commissioners meeting.

The drainage board, at a meeting following the commissioners, decided to have White draft a letter informing residents of the need for consent, and the drainage board members will go to the subdivision and hand deliver the letters.

Commissioner and drainage board member Mike Moore made a motion that the board will inform residents that previously granted easements to the board to address the problems of Isgrigg’s presence on their property, and those residents who haven’t been informed will need to provide written consent for Isgrigg to come on their property to complete the report for the commissioners.

        

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