A recent spate of wet weather has ensured that huge mounds of dirt — built up from the dredging of a pond co-owned by Allen County Community College and neighboring landowners — will remain untouched in the foreseeable future.
The pond cleaning was done at the behest of the neighbors in 2009. The cost to do so quickly soared past original estimates.
In an amended agreement, the college agreed to let the homeowners lay claim to the dirt, even though it’s on college ground, giving them until this September to have it removed.
Rainy weather this summer prevented any of it from being cleared away.
Now, the dirt is covered with thick weeds and hundreds of sunflowers, said John Masterson, ACCC president.
Trustees suggested burning off the weeds when the ground dries. They also directed Masterson to continue working with the landowners to get the dirt cleared.
Trustee Harvey Rogers pointed to another potential kink in the dirt removal plans.
“I’m not convinced they got the pond dam sealed,” Rogers said, which would mean the pond is still leaking.
The only way to tell, he added, would be if the ground is still wet below the pond after an extended period of dry weather.
“I’m not sure how they’re ever going to get that dirt out of there,” Rogers concluded.
Masterson said city officials have agreed to put in a temporary driveway for crews to access the dirt piles from Kentucky Street when it comes time to haul it away.
In the original accord, the college was to pay $8,000 — half of the original $16,000 estimate — to have the pond dredged. Instead, the cost to clear out the pond came in at more than $30,000.
Trustees declined to increase ACCC’s contribution but instead said the homeowners could have the dirt.
“From what I understand, they have two potential buyers, neither of which has any funding yet,” Masterson said, referring to a proposal to build a new hospital, which is contingent on a sales tax referendum in November; and a proposed senior housing complex in Iola’s Cedarbrook division, which is contingent upon developers receiving state tax credits.
Masterson noted that the college, to date, has paid only $4,000 of its share and will hold the other half until after the area is cleared.
Dirt, dirt everywhere
