(LAGRANGE) – LaGrange County's drainage system is wearing out and lacks the money for repairs.

That was the message from new County Surveyor Zach Holsinger to the County Council on Monday. LINKC.

He said the county’s General Drainage Index fund only has $48,000
available. Just one drainage project would wipe out what remains and not leave any cushion for emergency repairs if needed.

Holsinger said the county funded the GDI fund with $200,000 back in the 1970’s. In today’s dollars that would equal around $640,000. He noted Noble County funded its GDI at $675,000 with about $400,000 currently available for projects.

Another option would be to do as Elkhart County does and tax each
parcel in the county a set amount to fund drainage. Council didn’t like the idea of
landowners who don’t have drainage problems footing the bill for those that do.

They agreed to seek a source of funding to bring the GDI back up to $200,000 and then advertise an additional appropriation for next month.