Writer Says Shelly Ditch Issue Being Resolved By City

By: DeAntha Wright-Thornburg

I hadn’t planned to return to work, but retirement is taking me in a different direction. I feel it’s more important than spending idle time with my gardens. Recently an unplanned exchange of ideas, I learned events were about to play out behind the scenes of local governments that will affect all. We can do nothing unless there is transparency in local government.

Local media is confined to reporting the facts and issues presented by our government officials. It’s been said there is ‘Power Of The Pen.’ As a former paid journalist, leaving out a single word or sentence can take a story in a different direction.  If an elected official desires to push a project in a direction with their ‘own agenda’ in mind, we can do little without knowing their agenda. That is the purpose of the media reporting and the organization posting their minutes in a timely manner. According to Indiana Code, 48 hours is considered reasonable, not 30 days later or beyond. Our Montgomery County Drainage Board has not updated the minutes since March of 2022.

Someone had to speak up and draw attention to how our elected officials in the community conduct business, spend our tax dollars, and the decisions. Will they be progressive in our communities’ future or hinder their growth and prosperity? I have been so naive to the actions of others in local government.

We have such elected officials who have outlived their elected positions. Wanting the taxpayer to believe they are non-expendable in their views. What I have seen in the last few months is that our local government is playing a game with our tax dollars and our future. Local officials affect our community’s propensity and that of future generations. Not just the community but those living in retirement on what we often refer to as a ‘fixed income”. Actually, we ‘ALL’ live on a fixed income.

The Shelly Ditch project is a perfect example of my concerns. If not for the kink that I have put in the Montgomery County Drainage Board plan, we, as landowners in the Shelly Ditch area, would be looking at a hefty tax increase through no fault of our own, but for the fault of a few ill-equipped individuals sitting behind desks not wanting to take the time to explore and exhaust every possible aspect of finding money to pay for such a massive undertaking.  The truth is that the Montgomery County Drainage Board is inept in the execution of the Shelly Ditch project.

The resolution at today’s Montgomery County Drainage Board meeting was the only reasonable option all agreed. Doug Mills said the board is willing to transfer control of Shelly Ditch to the city. There are some 576 acres, and some 900 parcels, 95 percent of its watershed is in the city.

Dan Taylor articulated the plan to transfer all control over to the city. The affected date of transfer of jurisdiction of the project will be July 1st, 2023. The faster we can do this we can move on. A transfer to the city is the best resolution. Doug Miles added the engineering plans would now belong to the city.

Chairman David Rhoads, “I guess from my standpoint. I think it’s a great idea. I’ll make the motion for the responsibility of Shelly Drain to be transferred to the city of Crawfordsville. I make the motion to move the resolution to the city.”

Mayor Todd Barton said they have worked out a solution best for everyone, the area has been developed over the years. We have the ability to deal with this. “We have been able to find funding sources there will not be an assessment of the landowners.”

The city engineer is meeting with Banning Engineering and will pick it up from there and work out the details and the timing will depend on the engineers. For some future development, it is not the sole deciding factor, but this resolution will solve a lot of issues.

Local resident Ray Baker said he lives at 501 Louise Avenue across from John Beard. “Your decision to transfer Shelly Ditch to the city and they have the funding to absorb the cost and take it over is excellent. I’ve had 50 years of problems. We have no drains. Mr. Barton is taken on a monumental task. You guys let it go. I know 50 people that live in that area. Most of the people in that area would be homeless.”

Barton ended the presentation by saying he expected future development in the area, which is part of the reason for the “Resolution of Transfer” but we must deal with it, but first, we have to deal with Shelly Ditch and the traffic on Traction Road. “We have the funding and the engineering plans to proceed. I have some Tiff funding to move that money over. Nothing will come from the residence, there will be no assessment to the landowners.”

– DeAntha Wright-Thornburg worked for the Indiana Department of Transportation for more than 30 years and is also a freelance journalist.