The flood in 2009 made it clear Batesville’s stormwater system needed to be updated. Mayor Rick Fledderman and city council met Monday to review the information gathered for funding options and priority projects.
He named several streets, starting with EGS/Valley Drive toward the west end of the city. Council and engineers are not sure of the best approach. “We all agreed something needs to be done. So that entails some further engineering and review,” Fledderman said.
Other area for improvements: Ripley and Vine Streets by the Rosemont neighborhood, and Huntersville and Woodlawn roads, and Central and Park Avenue, near Koch’s Auto.
S. Park Avenue by Catherine and Depot Street were also targeted. ‘Those are the top ones, and we looked four or five others too, but these came at the top of the list, where we think we can make the most impact at the most minimal cost.”
They are also trying to improve what was probably the city’s original retention pond, Sycamore Lake. “A big part of the downtown area drains into it. We want to make some improvements for putting in containers that will keep sediment going into that lake,” he said.
These improvements don’t come cheap. Fledderman said the estimate is $1.9 million.
They are looking at a USDA low interest, 40 year loan. Council gave the mayor the OK to pursue this loan.
They could tie in this fund with community facilities improvement so they are looking at adding sidewalks at EGS to Columbus Avenue, 2nd Street, and Huntersville Road from Columbus Avenue to W. Pearl. “That would fund the actual stormwater improvements. The community facilities, we’d look at another fund and that might be from EDIT or Community Capital development funds.”
There will be more opportunity for public input.
