Roads reopening, Public Works looking at voluntary buyouts

Some city streets and intersections are reopening at 5 p.m. today as standing water throughout the city continues to go down.

The following locations are reopening:

·        Calhoun and Tillman
·        Winchester Road between Bluffton and Airport Expressway
·        1700 block of Catalpa
·        Taylor east of Freeman

Smith Road at Covington is closed as well as Taylor between Portage and Freeman.

Drivers should continue to avoid areas with high water and not drive around barricades.

City crews worked throughout the day to clear streets of water and ice. Front-end loaders worked in the Junk Ditch area moving out accumulated ice. Water was still underneath much of the ice so crews will continue to try to clear the water as it turns to ice.

Public Works Director Bob Kennedy and some of his staff were in the Junk Ditch area Monday evaluating damage and evaluating homes for voluntary buyouts.

“The choice to sell is always the homeowner'€™s,” Kennedy said. “We don'€™t force people from their homes. Property owners can call in to get their names added to the list as the City prioritizes buy-out areas.”

Those interested in buyouts should contact the City'€™s 311 Call Center between 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information.

Anyone with property damage due to the floods or high water, including flooded basements, is encouraged to report the damage to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security.

The Homeland Security Department'€™s toll-free number is (866) 210-1925. The department is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Other flood-related questions should be directed to the City'€™s 311 Call Center, which is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

River levels continued to drop from their highs late last week, but only the St. Joseph River at the former Roots location was below flood stage as of Monday afternoon.

 

Location

Height in feet Monday afternoon

Flood stage in feet

St. Mary's River at Muldoon

14.62

14

Maumee River at Coliseum

20.09

17

St. Joseph River at Roots

11.64

12

St. Joseph River in Newville

14.06

12

St. Mary's River in Decatur

18.75

17


Pumps remain in operation throughout the city even if there is no standing water at some locations. Pumps usually stay on until the river levels are below flood stage, city officials said, especially during cold weather to keep water from coming back up in the storm sewers, flooding streets and becoming ice.

Sewer maintenance crews continue to monitor the pumps around the clock.