Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Water Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County engineers, township officials outline steps to study Locke Lake outflow
Summary
County officials told the Silver Creek Township board they will need a hydraulic analysis to determine whether Locke Lake outflow work qualifies for Town Bridge funding; the township would cover the first $10,000 of engineering and state approval may be required, with county funds potentially 1–5 years away.
Vice Chairman Mike Helman said on Aug. 6 that the Silver Creek Township board heard from County Commissioner Vetsch and County Engineer Chad Hausmann about options to better control the outflow from Locke Lake. Commissioner Vetsch and Hausmann described a next step of hiring a consultant to perform a hydraulic analysis to determine whether repair work would trigger a Town Bridge project and thus qualify for Town Bridge account funds.
Chad Hausmann, identified as county engineer, told the board that the township would be responsible for the first $10,000 of engineering costs. If the hydraulic analysis finds the work qualifies as a Town Bridge project, the engineering expense could be applied toward that $10,000; if not, the township would bear that cost. County staff said county funding would not be available immediately and estimated it could be one to two years before funds are available; because the project would also need state approval, the overall timeline to using external funds could be roughly three to five years.
Resident Johan Massmann urged the township to be “aggressive” in pursuing a solution, and board members said they will check how long an engineering study remains valid for future funding opportunities. No formal motion to commit funds or hire a consultant was recorded during the discussion.
Why it matters: Locke Lake’s outflow and associated drainage control affect local road and property conditions and could require coordination among township, county and state agencies. The board’s immediate choice is whether to hire a consultant to produce the hydraulic analysis that would determine eligibility for Town Bridge funding and inform next steps.
What’s next: County staff advised the township to commission the hydraulic analysis; the board will consider next steps and potential consulting costs at a future meeting.
