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Heritage Lake owners ask to use Barrett Law to get roads paved

Wednesday, July 22, 2009
By MARIBETH WARD, Staff Writer

GREENCASTLE -- Heritage Lake Homeowners Association Board members Dan Antico and Harold Paetow appeared before the Putnam County Commissioners Monday evening asking to use a specific law that would allow for a ten year bond paid for by tax assessments to property owners at the lake.

For several months members have been coming to the commissioners meeting looking for help in finding funding for the $3 million road project in the second largest populated area in Putnam County.

"We are trying to figure out a way to get restoration for our roads. We recognize the county doesn't have the funds and want to apply the Barrett Law to restore the roads," said Antico.

By evoking the Barrett Law, an Economic Improvement District that can create revenue payable by assessments to property owners can be formed and a bond obtained. Financing can be set over a long period of time to make payments more manageable. In this case, they are looking at 10 years.

The sewer system at Heritage Lake was financed over 10 years in a similar manner some time ago. Of the 30 miles of roads in the area, 22 miles need resurfacing or work outside of Heritage Drive.

County attorney Scott Hoff was asked to speak with a bonding lawyer from Baker and Daniels Law firm regarding the issue.

"If 40 percent of homeowners lodge a complaint against the tax assessment, it goes to court and a judge will decide if they can do it or not," said Hoff. "Objections have to be in writing."

This is just a beginning step for the process.

"We need to make sure we don't have to set up a public works board," added Commissioner Gene Beck who made the motion to investigate the Barrett law.

His motion was passed 3-0.

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  • as far as the roads go in putnam county its like living in a third world country .its time for a change in administration.

    -- Posted by country182 on Wed, Jul 22, 2009, at 9:59 AM

  • I live at the lake...very mixed feelings about this. Having the roads paved would make the lake look much nicer and raise property values. Paying taxes currently for roads in Putnam county (I won't even touch that issue) and again on property taxes is a real sticking point with me. Let alone with the state of the economy and how much the cost of living has raised in relation to the populations income. Also, more info is needed. How is it accessed per home? Does every home pay the same amount regardless of the homes value? Of course the value can be directly related to that families income and what they can afford.

    I would like to see more articles written by The Banner with unbiased data on how the Barrett Law would apply to Heritage Lake.

    -- Posted by G-boy2008 on Wed, Jul 22, 2009, at 2:04 PM

  • Why should I have to pay for the same repair twice? We are the second largest populous in the county. I see Roachdale getting new roads(I'm sure a different fund). FIND OUT where the road tax repair money has been going. I think you will all be surprised. I have two lots with one house on Heritage Drive so I'll get charged twice. VOTE NO!

    -- Posted by nomoretaxes on Wed, Jul 22, 2009, at 5:06 PM

  • I'm sorry that I don't know more about this issue, but I will be moving into this area sometime in the next year, and I have to ask.... are the roads in the Heritage Lake are county roads or are they private roads?

    -- Posted by shocktherapy on Thu, Jul 23, 2009, at 6:58 PM

  • the county hired more deputies, because I guess they need more running around, but tell the county highway dept no more overtime, that includes winter, guess what is going to happen when the snow falls, or like last year the ice, nope guys it is 3:30 go home, there is not enough highway workers to run different shiff's like at Indy, so be prepare folks of Putnam county if you can't get down your county roads this winter call the sheriff's department and maybe they will send a deputy to pick you up and take you to work, because the highway dept can't work overtime!!!!

    -- Posted by senior'08 on Fri, Jul 24, 2009, at 11:05 AM
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