Palmyra council to form committee to review subdivision infrastructure costs after contractor concerns; drainage complaint raised

A Palmyra resident raised a drainage complaint at the May 1 council meeting, and the council also directed staff to form a committee to address contractors' concerns about subdivision infrastructure costs.

Joe Schaffer told the council about an ongoing drainage problem; Street Commissioner Austen Dornberger said he had walked the easement and was exploring available options. Mayor Alan R. Adrian told Mr. Schaffer the city will continue to investigate but that any remedy will require input from an engineer and will be a gradual process.

Separately, Superintendent Brent Abell told the council the Board of Public Works appointed Board Member Tim Browning to listen to contractor concerns about the subdivision ordinance's initial infrastructure cost requirements. Abell asked that Mayor Adrian and Council Member Rex Thomas also serve on the committee. Abell said contractors have been asked to prepare numbers for a residential development outside the city limits in Marion County and a comparable development inside the city limits; he hopes to schedule the meeting within about three weeks.

The council did not take immediate policy action at the meeting beyond approving the committee structure and asking staff to pursue engineering advice and contractor cost comparisons. Next steps identified in the minutes include obtaining engineer recommendations on the drainage complaint and convening the contractor-cost committee.