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Flooding is main topic of Roanoke council at meeting

The main topic of conversation at the July 21 Roanoke Town Council meeting was the recent flooding that occurred in Roanoke the week of July 13.

The council listened to multiple citizen comments and gave updates on the aftermath of the flood.

A citizen was concerned that a town recycling bin was stuck under a bridge and partially to blame for the flooding. Council President Dave Tucker cleared up that it was in fact stuck under the bridge, but it was after the flooding, therefore not the cause of it.

Citizens were concerned about the lack of information that occurred during the flood. Tucker suggested signing up for Code Red notifications by calling the Huntington Emergency Management Agency. Citizens will be informed about flooding and other emergencies by phone call.

A concerned citizen asked the council if the town has any plans to determine if flooded areas qualify for a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) buy out. Tucker responded that the town gives the state information, and the state gives FEMA information.

“There’s a chain of command,” he said.

Tucker noted that the Huntington County Commissioners have declared Roanoke a disaster area.

Another concerned citizen remarked that the drain on McPherren Creek needs to be looked at and cleaned out due to sediment build up. Tucker said he would get it looked at.

One citizen stated that they would like the street sweeper to go down Fifth Street. Tucker responded that the street sweeper has been extremely busy, and it will find its way down Fifth Street eventually. He suggested keeping cars off of the street to make it easier to clean.

The Main Street bridge and condemned building were another topic of conversation as a result of the flooding. In regards to the July 25 car show, both lanes of the street will be open but no parking will be available, said Tucker. Fire Chief Chad Taylor was concerned about the influx of people walking on the street during the car show.

“If it becomes an issue, we’ll just close it,” Taylor said.

The vacant building at Main and Vine streets that was affected by a collapsed slab due to flooding has been condemned, but the Main Street bridge is fine, said Utility Superintendent Paul Swain. The building is privately owned, but the town is in talks with lawyers to be demolished, said Tucker. He noted that there is a 60/40 chance that the building will fall down on its own.

The council members thanked the town fire and police departments for their hard work in responding to flooding and flood clean-up.

In other business:

• New computerized equipment was installed in the water plant, said Assistant Utility Superintendent John Hitzemann. There was a consensus by the council to add a new computer to the water plant through MetroNet.

• Swain noted that Seminary Street was supposed to be paved on Saturday, July 18, but it will be rescheduled due to rain. He added that the final completion date should be the end of August.

• The council moved to increase the town employee’s retirement rate by 20 percent, which they will look at again every year. The current amount of $5,000 has remained the same for about 20 years, said Clerk-Treasurer JoAnne Kirchner. She added that the maximum amount it can go up to is $7,500.