Stormwater board reviews downtown outlet options, drainage complaints and a fence encroachment; approves minutes

BARGERSVILLE, Ind. — The Bargersville Stormwater Utility Board on Feb. 24 heard an engineering update on several local drainage problems, reviewed a draft downtown expansion stormwater study that recommends 3 Notch ditch improvements and discussed an easement-encroaching fence application. The board also approved minutes from its Jan. 27 meeting.

Mary Atkins, a stormwater engineer with Wessler Engineering, told the board the firm had received a written response and a SWIP plan from the White River Crossing developer but that on-site erosion-control issues remained unaddressed. "If there's if they haven't addressed the issues, then, they're gonna look at penalties," Atkins said. She said a town inspection will follow when staff member Meaghan returns from vacation.

The updates also covered two drainage complaints in the Enclave along Smoky Row Road. Wessler determined the road flooding and a separately backed-up pond were independent problems and proposed localized fixes including an underdrain and rock row to catch water before it reaches the road. Atkins said the town had asked for a narrative and an engineer cost estimate because the road-side fix likely would be a town repair in the right of way.

The board reviewed a draft study of the proposed downtown expansion area that evaluated two outlet routes. One option would route drainage northeast across farmland to Robarts Ditch; the other would pipe drainage through the 3 Notch area toward State Road 135. Atkins said both options are technically viable but carry different trade-offs. "The first one was gonna be towards the Northeast where it would cut across the agricultural field and discharge to the Robarts Ditch. The second was to cut through the, 3 notch and, get the drainage to go over to the State Road 135," she said.

Wessler provided preliminary infrastructure constraints and pipe-sizing assumptions. The study identifies an existing 8-inch pipe near the 3 Notch detention area as a limiting factor; downstream of that point the proposed sizes include a 24-inch reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), a 21-inch double-elliptical pipe and the option to pipe the larger ditch with a 48-inch line. The farmland outlet option would require about 2,500 linear feet of 36-inch pipe. Atkins noted the pipe sizing assumes detention is installed as part of any development: "If you develop and you don't do detention, then the pipe sizes don't work."

Preliminary cost estimates in the draft put the 3 Notch ditch improvements at about $1,500,000 and the northeast/farm-field outlet at about $1,800,000; those figures include construction and nonconstruction costs such as design, permitting and construction inspection. Atkins said Wessler prefers the 3 Notch improvements because that option would also address some existing ponding and maintenance issues in the neighborhood.

Atkins said Wessler had surveyed existing pipes and photographed maintenance needs; an appendix with those photos and repair notes will be added to the draft. She also said the firm is coordinating with town staff, the redevelopment commission and, potentially, the Pulte development team so private development options can be considered alongside public improvements.

On an individual-property matter, Atkins reviewed an encroachment/fence request for Lot 73A. Wessler found the proposed fence location would reduce the required 5-foot setback from the flow line defined in the Unified Development Standards. "We have to have 5 feet off of the flow line," Atkins said. The applicant's layout put the fence roughly 4 feet from the flow line; Atkins recommended asking the owner for a revised fence plan and a recorded agreement because the fence would sit in an easement. Board members agreed a recorded no-objection letter or agreement would protect the town and notify future owners the fence could be removed if necessary.

Board members and staff discussed system-wide issues including a town GIS inventory of storm infrastructure, gaps in attributes such as pipe material and depth, and the need for a condition assessment and asset-management approach. Atkins said the GIS mapping exists and that some layers are public while other data may require town access. The board suggested involving utilities staff, Roy and Brian, to review the draft study and the 3 Notch field conditions.

Procedural items: a motion to approve the board’s Jan. 27 minutes carried 2-0, and the meeting adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Next steps noted during the meeting included asking the fence applicant for a revised plan and recorded agreement, circulating the draft downtown study to the redevelopment commission and Pulte representatives for comment, scheduling a follow-up workshop to finalize the Stormwater Technical Standards Manual, and pursuing a condition assessment and asset-management plan using the town GIS.