The William Shelley Drain is a legal drain that serves to remove subsurface water from much of the east side of Crawfordsville. It was originally designed to serve a rural area when much of the land was used for farming. However, much has changed in recent decades, and most of the land within the watershed served by the drain has been developed. Due to growth in the area, and the age of the existing infrastructure involved in the drain, it is no longer adequate for removing water collected by the stormwater system from the area. As a result, it needs reconstruction to allow the area to be properly drained, prevent flooding of homes and businesses, and clear the way for future development.
As a legal drain, Shelley has fallen under the control of the Montgomery County Drainage Board, which is the legal mechanism for addressing the maintenance of drains in the largely rural agricultural areas of the county. The drainage board has the legal authority to assess property owners in the watershed served by the drain for maintenance and repairs to the drain. It has been working through a plan to address the much-needed reconstruction of this particular drain. In fact, the drainage board has placed an assessment on properties served by the drain for some time now to fund the cost of engineering and design work for the eventual reconstruction of the drainage infrastructure.
The engineering is complete, and a plan is in place for reconstruction. However, the lingering question has centered around how to best and most equitably fund the necessary work. While the project has yet to be bid, construction estimates have varied considerably due to volatility in the construction market along with ongoing supply chain issues, and the total cost could easily exceed $3 million. The drainage board has the legal authority to proceed with the reconstruction and assess to cost to those property owners in the Shelley watershed. Unfortunately, the cost for this particular project is considerable, resulting in an assessment that could run as high as $7,000 per acre.
This is a staggering number for property owners and would be assessed in addition to their normal property taxes. It is especially concerning considering the fact that most property within the watershed is residential, and the potential impact to those whose house sits on a quarter acre lot or larger would be significant.
The Montgomery County Drainage Board will meet at 9:30 a.m. June 21 in the Montgomery County Government Center to consider the next steps. In preparation for that meeting, I have communicated the City of Crawfordsville’s request that the drainage board vacate legal authority over the drain, turning it over to the city. This will allow us to more effectively connect this sub-surface drainage system to our existing city stormwater system and will enable the city the ability to complete the needed reconstruction of Shelley Drain without an assessment on properties within the watershed. The city would then maintain this particular drainage infrastructure as part of our stormwater system moving forward.
The city can fund this reconstruction due to property tax revenue set aside from recent industrial growth in the area. Additionally, I am confident in our ability to complete the work for less than current construction estimates indicate.
The drainage board will formally act on the city’s request at their June 21 meeting, and I fully anticipate legal authority for the Shelley Drain being transferred to the city. This is a hugely important step in finally addressing the long-standing drainage challenges on the east side of Crawfordsville stemming from failing infrastructure in the most cost-efficient and equitable manner for all involved while not saddling affected property owners with an additional assessment.
I strongly encourage property owners within the Shelley watershed to express their support for this plan to members of the Montgomery County Drainage Board and to attend the board meeting on June 21.
