Gates across road may stop cars

Warning signs and caution tape haven't been enough to keep people from driving into flooded areas in southern Putnam County, so the Putnam County Highway Department is going to take a different approach on one road.

Gates will be installed across the road at CR 1225 South and CR 25 East to stop the traffic.

Highway Supt. Dave Sutherlin told county commissioners Jim Baird, Gene Beck and Kristina Warren the area is a flood control zone for Cataract Lake. Since it flooded last week, five vehicles have been stuck in the water, including one that is submerged. Another report of a stranded car came in Monday night.

Sutherlin said signs blocking the road have been stolen and others have been pushed into the ditch. Warning tape has also been cut, creating a danger to the unwary.

"If you come up on that in the dark and the signs are gone, you can't see the water," Baird said.

Sutherlin said he has met with Indiana Department of Natural Resources about putting the gates up, and the state's only request is that they have keys to the gates in case they need access.

There is a driveway near the proposed gate site so motorists can turn around.

"I'm concerned about someone getting killed," Sutherlin said of the high water.

He also noted that Ind. 42 has been crossed by the flood water.

The commissioners unanimously approved the installation of gates across the road.

Meanwhile during their meeting Tuesday, the commissioners:

-- Learned that a lease agreement is in the works to allow the county fire chief's association to use a parcel of land at the county highway department for training. A small building is to be construction with donations.

-- Signed a lease agreement for $38,453.20 for a piece of 911 dispatching equipment that will allow the county dispatch center to receive reliable latitude and longitude locations from cell phones and in-vehicle devices such as On-Star.

-- Saw a grant agreement from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security of $87,787 to pay for firefighter training through the Regional Public Safety Training Fund. Putnam County EMA is the lead fiscal agency in the eight-county region.

-- Signed a contract for a part-time nurse to work in the Putnam County Health Department.

-- Appointed Raymond McCloud to the county board of zoning appeals. He will serve a four-year term.

-- Approved the M&D Subdivision in Monroe Township to divide two lots of 53 acres into a 28-acre lot and a 23-acre lot. A rezoning will be sought later to allow for business development on the property.

-- Approved the Foster Subdivision in Cloverdale Township to divide 16.39 acres into a residential lot.

-- Reapppointed Kevin Carrington to the 911 board.

-- Heard from the county Board of Aviation Commission about their members and meeting dates. The aviation board now meets at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Mondays of each month.

The commissioners regularly meet at 6 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of the month in the courthouse annex, 209 W. Liberty St., Greencastle. Tuesday's meeting was one day later due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.