Centerville loses sand, stone to flood

While noting some expensive losses for residents and the town, Centerville leaders are relieved that maintenance improvements helped minimize flooding damage.

At council’s Aug. 25 work session, they also shared appreciation for town and county first responders, utility workers and others helping those affected.

Several items related to the Aug. 12 flooding included:

• Building Commissioner Gerald Millsaps said 10 homes and one business in the flood plain were damaged, but none will require demolition. At least four basements in town took on water. Council agreed 4-0 to waive permit fees for flood-related repairs in and out of the flood plain. Councilor Josh Tudor abstained from the vote because his home was among those damaged. Millsaps said some residents on College Corner Road, the hardest-hit area of town, offered thanks for local assistance.
• Forty tons of sand for winter road clearing and 30 tons of stone used for routine road repairs washed away near the town’s sewer plant at 816 N. McMinn Road. Supplies will be replenished.
• While Centerville’s water plant wasn’t damaged, its wastewater/stormwater plant didn’t fare so well. Centerville had a combined sewer overflow event at Noland Fork Creek south of the abandoned railway bridge. Town Manager Kevin Slick said more than 5 million gallons ran through the treatment plant that day, with another 2 million spilling through the CSO.

Council President Dan Wandersee said he didn’t think it was possible the town could have had a big enough tank to prevent the overflow.

He and Slick agreed that stormwater improvements over the past 10 years helped minimize damage. Water began receding as soon as the heavy rains stopped, showing the system is working, Slick said. He said Elm Street previously always flooded after lighter rains, so improvements made a noticeable difference.

“I’ve never seen anything like what the floods were in my life,” Slick said.

• Six high water and road closed signs and barricades were stolen as officials tried to close roads.
• Dumpsters at the police department were to be removed around Aug. 28; residents are now responsible for disposing of additional items.
• Centerville loaned spare equipment such as pumps to Williamsburg and offered to supply Cambridge City.
• Centerville Fire/Rescue received 15 flood-related calls and distributed cleaning supplies. Bar codes were blurred out after receiving reports that some items were returned to Walmart.
• CF/R asked if the town would consider creating a Facebook page to relay community information as some residents were relying on CF/R posts during flooding.

Councilors said they’d rather share information via the town’s website or encourage residents to call the town manager or police department if needed. Clerk Sarah Rice said a few flood updates were made on the website, including sewer overflows and dumpster access.

Councilor Jack Bodiker said Facebook discussions can get out of line and “turn a black-and-white-spotted cow into a zebra.”

Because Indiana Municipal Power Agency crews have been sent to storm-damaged areas, they won’t return until mid-September to resume work on Centerville’s electric system upgrade.

In other business

• Council approved repairing the town’s tornado siren controls for $2,275. Electronics from the 1970s are worn out. Currently, a town leader has to get to a locked box to push a button to activate it, which can mean a delay of at least 5 to 10 minutes. Repairs mean Wayne County Emergency Management Agency can activate the siren at the same time as Richmond’s.
• Centerville Police Department Officer Daniel Husted’s request to move from full- to part-time was approved. 
• Council authorized Chief Josh Millsaps to extend an offer to a candidate.
• Youth softball coaches received permission to collect donations from motorists at U.S. 40 and Morton Avenue on the evening of Friday, Sept. 25. Centerville Senior High School’s Homecoming parade is at 5 that night.
• Council’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in town hall, 220 E. Main St. The public is invited.