October 14, 1979

White River matters considered

       If present trends continue, the Johnson County Commissioners may want to move their headquarters from the County Courthouse in Franklin to White River Township. Several of the most important matters considered by the commissioners during a meeting Monday involved White River Township. That has been the case in several recent meetings of the three-man board, which monitors many building activities that are currently more prevalent in White River than in other areas of the county with lower growth rates. Among the White River related subjects considered by the commissioners were:

-         A proposal by the Indiana Cities Water Corp. to install fire hydrants in the northern portion of the township.

-         A drainage plan for a proposed shopping center that has generated opposition from nearby residents.

-         Problems with installation of underground electric lines in the Golden Grove subdivision

-         Apparent drainage and street problems in the new Hunters Pointe subdivision

-         A letter from the homeowners association of the Mark II subdivision, advising the commissioners of residents’ complaints with drainage provisions there and suggesting they delay release of the maintenance bond posted by developer Fortress Reality and Construction.

And minor matters such as locations for stop signs in the Windsong Estates subdivision and bonds for the Woodcreek Terrace subdivision. Indiana Cities Water Corp. representative Don Corey and Richard Bealer requested the commissioners consider sharing the cost of placing 138 fire hydrants in heavily populated areas of the largely unincorporated township. The commissioners did not reject the proposal to provide $75,000 over perhaps five years to help the water company with costs of the hydrants, but their reaction was basically negative. The main objective expressed was that entering the project would not only be expensive, but might obligate the commissioners to provide similar arrangements in other areas of the county. “I’d be the first to admit it would be a wonderful thing,” commissioner chairman Bill Drake said. “But I can’t see how you’re (the commissioners) going to do something for one area of the county and not do it for other areas.” Indiana Cities’ plan was drawn with the help of former White River Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bob Wehrman. The hydrants would be located within the utility’s main White River service area (from Smith Valley Road north to the Johnson- Marion county line, between State Road 37 and State Road 135). The company plans to file a request with the State Public Service Commission to allow $1.20 surcharge on monthly water bills for residents served by hydrants. Bealer and Corey said most residents would gain more than that back in insurance savings since the hydrants would improve the area’s fire protection rating. The company representatives said Indiana Cities plans to require installation of hydrants by developers as a condition for supplying water service to subdivisions built in the future. That has not been done in the past, leading to the plan for 138 hydrants. During the drainage board session of Monday’s meeting, the commissioners reviewed Indalyn Corp’s drainage plans for a shopping center to be built near the intersection of State Road 135 and Smith Valley Road. The commissioners expressed concerns the drainage provisions might allow water to run onto adjacent property. Apparently some neighboring landowners have objections to the plan to lay a drainage pipe on the east side of State Road 135. The shopping center was opposed by several residents during review by the county Plan Commission early this year. The commissioners told Golden Grove developer Phil Willsey and a representative of Johnson County Rural Electric Membership Corp. (Remc) to file plans showing the exact locations of electric lines installed in a section now under construction. The commissioners have been concerned the lines are buried within future county road right-of-way and that they might interfere with drainage ditch maintenance possibly posing a danger to workers. The commissioners suggested Willsey have the lines moved or file an indemnification agreement freeing the county from liability related to the buried power lines. The commissioners questioned Hunters Pointe engineer Roger Park about concerns with drainage ditches and road widening for that subdivision. Park admitted there has been some siltation clogging ditches, but said that problem should be eased when new ground cover takes hold. Commissioner’s attorney Steve Huddleston said county highway superintendent Bob Barger has termed road widening at Hunters Pointe “a significant problem.” Park said developers hope to resolve some differences with the highway department and return to the commissioners for possible maintenance bond acceptance Nov. 19.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)
   
 

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