County to opt out of Flat Rock River watershed project

Bartholomew County Commissioners said that they were not interested in joining a watershed development commission for the Flat Rock River that could cost taxpayers along the waterway a million dollars or more.

The commissioners heard information about the project at their meeting yesterday from County Surveyor Jake Fitzsimmons and Isabella Foster with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. The goal is to improve the watershed from its beginnings as a creek in Henry County to Bartholomew County, where it combines to form East Fork White River. It would also include Haw Creek.

If the county joined the commission, properties that drain into the watershed would be assessed fees to tackle projects to improve the river watershed. Those could include flood mitigation and detection, drainage and water quality improvements, other maintenance and even recreational projects. The county would have representatives on a regional commission overseeing the watershed and the commission would have taxing authority to levy those fees.

Foster used an example where a residential home would pay about $5.60 a year if the commission levied 80 percent of the maximum allowed. Fitzsimmons estimated it would cost Bartholomew County taxpayers about $250,000.

Fitzsimmons said the project started in Henry and Rush counties which have the greatest need to stabilize streambanks, remove fallen trees and debris and reduce flooding in the watershed. He said Bartholomew County largely does not have similar flooding issues but there are projects that could be tackled.

Commissioners said that they were not inclined to join the project because of the cost to property owners. Commissioner President Tony London said that the county would pay a large portion of the funding, but receive a small amount of benefit.

The presentation was for information only and not up for a vote.