MOUNT VERNON — The city has completed the interim risk reduction measures (IRRMs) on the Knox Cattle Company dam on Yauger Road.
Stephen Samuels, outside counsel for the city, said the city has formally engaged a hydrology consultant. The hydrologist met on site with City Engineer Brian Ball several weeks ago.
The consultant will review existing data from the city and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. If the data is sufficient, the consultant will begin to calculate capital and operational costs for three options:
•Maintaining the dam at its current size and elevation
•Removing the dam and filling in the lake
•Coming up with a design to lower the water level to the point where it is below ODNR’s jurisdiction
Samuels said there is no fixed time frame for evaluating the data and assigning costs.
“It’s probably between four to six weeks out,” he said during a pre-trial telephone conference on Dec. 15. “After it’s completed, Brian, [City Law Director] Rob Broeren, and I will look at the data. We’ll get more if needed. If the data is sufficient, we’ll look at the three options and assign costs.”
Nita Hanson, attorney for Mullins Bros. LTD, noted for the record that one of attorney Stephen E. Chappelear’s clients sold their home. Another home is soon to be sold. Hanson and Chappelear agreed to substitute the purchasers’ name for the previous owner.
Attorney Kim Rose, who represents several defendants, said he spoke with County Administrator Jason Booth about funding. According to Booth, the commissioners still have $1 million in ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) money allocated to the dam. The Board of Knox County Commissioners will pay for the temporary repairs upon receiving a reimbursement request from the city.
Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel sounded a note of caution regarding payment from the commissioners.
“Until the county commissioners take formal action to approve any kind of funding, I think it’s important for the residents to know there may be a limit to what the commissioners will pay,” he said. “That might make a difference in what decision they reach [as to which option they choose].”
In August, Wetzel ordered that additional parties be added to the suit. Last month, 12 parties who own property contiguous to the lake were added. Several parties have since filed motions to be dismissed from the suit; those motions are pending.
The next pre-trial conference is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2022.
