Backed up sewer lines causing EMS consternation

The PVC at the PCEMS HQ needs some TLC ... PDQ.

Ongoing sewer issues at the Putnam County EMS headquarters on Bloomington Street in Greencastle have been causing a stinky situation in more ways than one recently.

An issue was first reported back in June, when a plugged wastewater line had sewage backing up in all drains in the building.

More recently, a similar issue mainly confined to the recently-remodeled administrative portion of the building prompted discussion of what to do during Monday’s meeting of the Putnam County Commissioners. The backup and ensuing damage led to the replacement of some flooring that was installed just last year in the remodel.

Also on Monday, EMS Chief Kelly Russ contacted Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory about the matter, so a city utility crew was sent out to explore the problem further on Tuesday.

Russ told the Banner Graphic that when the crews used the water jet to clean out the lines “water shot straight up out of toilets and floor drains at least eight feet in the air.”

At that point, Russ said she ran out of the building toward the nearby Greencastle Skate Park, where the utility crews were working, to get them to turn off the water.

At this time, a clearer picture of the root of the problem and its location is needed. While the county owns the Putnam County EMS property, its sewer lines eventually run into a city line.

Russ described what comes next as “some sort of collaboration between county and city to replace the lines and install backflow prevention.”

That has still left some extensive cleanup for Russ, as well as replacing some flooring in the affected areas.

The good news, she said, is that the flooring installed in the administrative side is the same as what is being installed in the current remodel of the south end of the building, so they’ve been able to replace this at no additional cost.

During the Commissioners’ meeting, talk also moved to the remodel, which has been being performed by county Maintenance Supervisor Tom Gilson and trustees from the Putnam County Jail.

Unfortunately, Gilson is currently on a leave of absence for an ill family member. Additionally, some of the trustees who have performed some of the more skilled labor have been released.

Commissioners Rick Woodall, Tom Helmer and David Berry discussed the possibility of having to use some extra money, aside from the $35,000-$40,000 currently estimated for materials, to complete the project.

As to what has happened so far, Russ had nothing but praise for Gilson and the inmates.

“Those trustees are doing amazing work,” she said.

In other business, the Commissioners:

• Heard from a group of residents of northeastern Greencastle Township who would like their gravel road paved.

Nana and Tom Rising were the main spokespeople for the residents of County Road 275 East between 100 North and 200 North.

They said there are currently 11 homes on this stretch, each of which has between two and four drivers.

Additionally, Nana reported having delivery drivers on the road multiple times a day as well as being a popular way to get from Floyd Township to Greencastle. She emphasized that there used to be two more crossings of Big Walnut Creek in the area that allowed for other routes into town. Those bridges have since been closed and not replaced

“I know 21 years ago when we moved up there it was gravel and we didn’t have an issue,” she said. “But it wasn’t half the traffic.”

Woodall gave the Commissioners’ normal response to such queries.

“The county has no plans on paving any gravel roads because we are struggling to keep up with the 220 miles we have,” Woodall said, noting that they get five or six such requests each year.

He added, though, that there have been residents who have pooled their own money to pave a road, with the county then taking over and paying for future upkeep.

Such a plan is in place this year for County Road 425 East in Jefferson Township.

The Risings and their neighbors seemed to bristle at the idea of paying for the improvements themselves, with Tom Rising suggesting that people on gravel roads are “discriminated against.”

“Of those 220 miles of gravel road, do you have another section where there are 11 homes in this small of an area?” Rising asked. “I think this is a special situation.”

Woodall asked County Engineer Jim Peck if a traffic count could be performed on the road as a starting point. However, it’s unclear from where such money might come in an already strapped highway budget.

• Heard from developer Jared Grable about an issue near his Whispering Winds subdivision on the southeast side of Greencastle.

Since completion of the subdivision, a neighbor to the east, across Glen Browning Drive, has complained of flooding in his backyard.

Although Whispering Winds lies within Greencastle’s city limits, Glen Browning Drive and the neighbor’s property lie outside the limits in the county’s jurisdiction.

This has lead to some confusion over who is responsible for the problem as well as what might be the best solution.

Peck, who was not employed by Putnam County when the plan was approved, suggested that the culvert under the road, which required city approval but not county, was not big enough.

Grable emphasized that drainage within the subdivision itself should have actually diverted more water away from the area than was the case when it was still a field.

Regardless, there is clearly a problem in need of a solution.

Grable noted that both Phase I and Phase II of his project are complete, meaning he only needs to resolve this issue to close it out completely.

County Attorney Jim Ensley suggested that he, Peck and Woodall approach city officials to discuss a solution. Grable added that he is willing to take part in the discussion.

“I’m just looking to close out the project,” Grable said.

• In Peck’s update on the status of county road work, he noted that recent rain had been “killing us.”

This came on the heels of Highway Director Clint Maddox reporting at the last meeting that the dry weather for much of the summer had been good for road work.

Peck also noted that hot mix asphalt paving work slated for this year would have to be changed to grind and double chip and seal due to lack of funds in the Motor Vehicle Highway Restricted Fund.

• Unanimously approved to stop providing insurance for township trustees through the county’s insurance plan, as trustees are not county employees.

Currently, just one of the county’s 13 trustees utilizes county health insurance, while another uses only vision and dental.

• Appointed Clint Cooper to the open position on the Putnam County Plan Commission.

Wendell Underwood, who has served as president of the commission, resigned last month.