MOUNT VERNON — Repairs to the Knox Cattle Co. dam on Yauger Road are expected to begin in mid-April, weather permitting.
Jack Harris of Intercept Management, court-appointed receiver for The Landings Property Owners Association, said the contractor, Haynes Construction, notified him on Thursday that dewatering will begin on either the 13th or the 20th of April.
“Of course, it’s weather dependent with how much rain, what the forecast is, and so forth,” Harris said on a conference call on Friday. “They have the big equipment that can drain it down to the point that the sun can start to work on drying out the topsoil so it’s easier to work with.”
Harris expects the risers and spill pipes to come in around the same time. The city could not order the materials until the Ohio Department of Natural Resources approved the designs for a two-pond solution.
ODNR verbally approved the plans in January.
“Once the dewatering begins, there will be a period to allow it to dry and then we’ll be [at] full construction,” Harris said.
Harris said there is significant water flow and that the pond is draining, even though the current spill pipe is not fully open.
“The city will continue to work toward repairing the siphon system that’s there,” he said. “Over the winter, it took some pretty significant damage, so we’re working on putting that back into place.”
However, Harris said it will only be needed if the water continues to rise and the current spill pipe clogs up again.
“As for right now, we do have some drainage, which is good. So Mother Nature is working with us,” he said.
Once Haynes starts construction, the process should take about two months.
Cost overruns and ongoing maintenance
Aaron Firstenberger, attorney for Intercept Management, is working to resolve a name discrepancy. The name listed as the property owners’ association and in the Declaration of Building and Development Restrictions is different.
Common Pleas Judge Richard Wetzel suggested it might be easier to amend the POA name rather than the declarations documents.
The Knox County Board of Commissioners contributed American Rescue Plan Act money to cover construction costs.
Harris and the property owners’ associations surrounding The Landings feel that The Landings POA should be held responsible for any cost overruns.
Similarly, each property owner in The Landings would bear future maintenance costs to ensure the dam remains in proper condition.
“It’s not clear at this point just how much in assessments would be the proper amount. But I think as we go forward and reach a consensus, or at least a court order as to how maintenance and any overruns are going to be paid for, that’ll become evident,” Firstenberger said.
Stephen Chappelear serves as legal counsel for a group of Landings defendants collectively referred to as The Long Defendants.
He reiterated his previous statements opposing the view that the residents of Phases VII and VIII in The Landings should be solely responsible for any cost overruns.
Chappelear also reiterated his belief that those responsible for ongoing maintenance should extend beyond property owners in The Landings.
Harris said that Park National Bank extended its commitment for a loan to cover cost overruns through June 30.
