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Over the years there have been many Crothersville residents voice concerns at town council meetings about the lack of proper drainage following heavy rains. However, when documenting drainage problems count— applying for a grant to alleviate the drainage problem— residents have gone silent.

Trena Carter with Administrative Resources association, the firm applying for the grant on behalf of the town told the town council that as of their Oct. 4 meeting only one letter documenting drainage problems and 39 online surveys have been received.

That’s not a very good response for a problem that is obvious. The grant application is due this Friday at the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

The $500,000 in grant funding would allow for three new culverts to be placed over Hominy Ditch at Bethany Road, Park Avenue and Kovener Street and the rehabilitation of Hominy Ditch from Kovener Street to the Crothersville Wastewater Treatment Plant outfall.

The culverts would be upsized, and the ditch, which carries 80 percent of the water through town, would be cleared of debris.

“That will help increase the flow or the capacity of the ditch to allow water to get away quicker,” Carter said. “The enlargement or the upsizing of the culverts will allow for less backflow or backup from the large volume of water that is causing some of the flooding in that area.”

Carter recently conducted the second and final public hearing to give residents a chance to learn about the grant, share information about how storm water improvements could help them and ask questions. The first public hearing was in August before the letter of intent was submitted.

No one voiced opposition to applying for the grant nor the town paying a local match of $63,700.

Last minute survey can be filled out online at surveymonkey.com/r/Crothersville-storm-water.

In other business, the town council:

  • Approved a Storm Water Utility ordinance establishing a $3 monthly fee for all properties. Town utility customers will see the higher billing with their November utility bill.
  • Approved Crothersville High School cross country team to use the Countryside Park for their home cross country meets.
  • Approved the purchase of a trench box for $4,398 from Quality Supply & Tool of Indianapolis. A trench box is a safety device for town workers when they dig to replace or repair sewer or water lines. The device, a requirement of OHSA, prevents soil from collapsing onto workers.
  • Set the official town trick-or-treat night for Saturday, Oct. 29, from 6-8 p.m. Residents welcoming youthful trick-or-treaters should turn on their front porch lights during the two-hour event.