Southern Wayne Neighborhood Organization

Department of Public Works

Public Meeting 3-13-2003

The meeting began with Wes Richardson letting our neighbors know that there will be a meeting on Thursday 3-20-2003.

There were approximately 67 neighbors in attendance, and 5 speakers.

Bill Bowman from the Department of Public Works introduced the Program Manger form DLZ Mike Jacob. DLZ is going to be the program manager to the Drainage Improvement Project # SD-30-064. Mike Jacob went on to introduce John Laturn, Mike Pasent, and Mike Stewart, as our contact people about the project.

DLZ sent out 751 card notices announcing the meeting, and they were please with the turn out from the neighbors. They had asked that we fill out a Property Owner and Resident Survey, if you had not filled out last year. They also said that we could call 633-4120 or email stormwaterutillity@indygov.org, any concerns about the project. They are concerned about the areas that really need assistance at this time.

Bill Bowman then explained that there was 2.4 Million dollars to be used on the project. Bill feels that this will not be enough to do the drainage for the whole area, so his goal with DLZ is work on the areas in the subdivision that are the worst, and work on the rest as money holds out. Bill went on to explain that this project may or may not be working on sidewalks to be put in, as he wants to do as much as possible with the drainage problems in our area. This is going to be the first meeting, and the Department of Public Works will be holding another meeting with the neighborhoods, with the designs drawing of the area. He said as the drainage project gets done, then the Department of Transportation will come in and work on repaving the roads, where drainage work was done.

Bill said after the second meeting with the designs drawings, that then the project would go out to bid for the contract to do work. He said that it might take most of next year to complete the project.

There were some questions asked from our neighbors:

Is there a chance that State Ditch would be piped in? He said no, that State Ditch was not the property of the city or state, they just have easement rights to State Ditch. That there is a 75 ft easement on each side of State Ditch. He did explain that the drainage project, would not affect any people that have to pay for flood insurance living next to State Ditch.

The $1.25 tax to be put on property this year, what is going to be for? This tax is only on the parcels with buildings on it, and this tax is to be used for only drainage projects.


The old barrette law, that many people paid, to have the drainage, streets, and sidewalks put in back in the 70’s. He said that this was before his time, but would like to here from people with information.