MOUNT CARMEL — Town leaders voted unanimously Tuesday in favor of spending up to $25,000 to repair a Main Street drainage issue, but two aldermen questioned the mayor’s separate plan to repair about a dozen drainage problems at some private residences.
The Mount Carmel Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 6-0 Tuesday in favor of a $25,000 budget amendment to cover the cost of repairing a drainage problem on Main Street at the Subway restaurant.
Mayor Larry Frost said his plan for Main Street is to install a 24-inch drain from the front of Subway to catch water flowing from that parking lot and carry it to a nearby creek.
Frost said the $25,000 figure will cover a worst-case scenario for that project if it becomes necessary to bore a drain under the road. He said the worst-case scenario would cost $18,000 to $20,000.
Frost added, however, that there are about a dozen drainage problems at private residences that he would like to address as funds become available.
The first to be addressed, Frost said, is the residence of Chad Jenkins on Meadow Springs Lane, where a buildup of dirt is obstructing a natural drainage and sending water into Jenkins’ basement every time it rains.
Building inspector Vince Pishner told the BMA that correcting that problem will cost the town about $2,000. Pishner said the drainage issue creates lawsuit liability for the town.
Alderwoman Wanda Davidson noted, however, that the town didn’t cause that problem.
“The city is not responsible if it’s a natural flow of water,” Davidson said.
Frost replied, “But that drain wasn’t supposed to be at that location either. That drain wasn’t supposed to come across right there, so in a way we did cause it.”
Vice Mayor Paul Hale added that when the city signed off on the subdivision plat it accepted that drainage plan.
“It’s not fair for us to let that boy and his wife and family set up there and get flooded out every time we have a rain,” Frost added.
Davidson said she agreed with the Main Street project. She noted, however, that Mount Carmel has about a dozen drainage issues at private residences.
Davidson asked how the mayor planned to prioritize drainage projects in subdivisions.
“The ones that are most major,” Frost said. “We’ve got some drainage issues in Brookshire Hills, and me and Vince (Pishner) are going to look at them one day this week. We’ve got drainage issues all over this city. Here’s the deal: If we don’t ever address them, they don’t go away.”
Davidson said she believes the town will be setting a bad precedent by performing work at private residences.
Alderman Carl Wolfe expressed concern about liability issues created by working on private property. Frost said there is a 15-foot sewer easement where that work will be completed and liability won’t be an issue.
In other business Tuesday the BMA:
•Approved the appointment of Cassandra Castle to represent Mount Carmel on the Hawkins County Solid Waste Planning Board. Castle received four votes. Alderman Eugene Christian voted for the other nominee, Davidson, and Davidson abstained.
•By a vote of 5-1 eliminated the past option of receiving an extra week’s paid vacation for town employees who opt out of the employee health insurance program. The change affects four employees. Only Davidson voted to retain the option.