LaPorte Farmers Concerned About Flood Relief Project
Published: Friday, April 1, 2022
A group of farmers worried about more standing water in their fields have come out against a plan to alleviate major flooding problems at a LaPorte County subdivision.
Several property owners along Kingsbury Creek alleging their land will be flooded by storm water discharges from the subdivision voiced their concerns during Monday night's LaPorte County council meeting.
A contract for the over $1 million to carry storm water from Meadowview subdivision to Kingsbury Creek was approved in early February by the LaPorte County commissioners.
The funding was later approved by the LaPorte County council.
Dairy farmer Andy Minich said the quality of their water from the spring fed creek about three miles south of LaPorte would also be negatively impacted by storm water discharges from the subdivision into the stream.
Minich said he feels for residents of Meadowview Estates subdivision and the major flooding problems they've experienced over the years, but there has to be another solution good for both sides.
"Decisions like this can vastly alter our water quality in our agricultural community. Until now, the county council has only really heard one side of the story. Tonight, several people are here to share the other side of the story on the other end of the drainage pipe," he said.
Harold Barr, whose farmland borders the creek, said he would have spoken up sooner but wasn't notified the project designed to lower the water table in the subdivision was under consideration.
The plan calls for installing a 1,000-foot-long and 36-inch-wide drainage pipe to carry excess storm water from the subdivision to the creek.
However, adjacent landowners claim the creek is in a designated wetland that doesn't have the capacity to handle the discharges without spilling over further on to their property.
"I'll lose tillable acres over that," Barr said.
Dennis Lantz said the creek running through the middle of his property is already susceptible to flooding during heavy rains.
Lantz said the creek has overrun its banks by as much as 300 feet on his land without accepting storm water discharges.
"1.3 million gallons a day is going to be the minimum that's going to come down there and go through that ditch bank," he said.
Sherry Banic said the creek about once a year floods her yard on the north side of her residence.
She also alleged the application for a permit from the state to construct the drainage pipe has "numerous errors" such as describing the creek and its surrounding area as not a wetlands.
"I think it really needs to be really looked at again," Banic said.
The project has been years in the making at Meadowview Estates, where basement flooding happens when sump pumps used continuously stop running during power outages and when they need replacing.
Several residents in tears from their constant battle with flood-related damage and mopping up floors recently thanked elected officials for their support of the project.
LaPorte County councilman Randy Novak suggested property owners near the creek take their concerns to the April 6 commissioners meeting.
He said the commissioners have authority to either continue on with the project as planned or put a stop to it to try and find another solution.
"There needs to be more questions answered," he said.
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