SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
Page A-8
The Republican
Thursday, February 18, 2021
Controversy Over Clermont Village Decision Continues
Photos taken by Mark and Michaela Kaiser indicate the poor drainage and flooding in the area near the site of the proposed Clermont Village development. Neighbors are hoping the Clermont Village project will shed light on their decades-long flooding and drainage problem.
By: Melissa Gibson On Feb. 9 the Hendricks County Commissioners voted to deny the Clermont Village project. The project called for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) in an unincorporated area near Brownsburg. Approval would have allowed construction of 149 single family homes, 85 townhomes and condos, a K-12 private school, a college for students whose studies focus on the Koran, a dormitory and a community center with prayer rooms, swimming pool, gymnasium, classrooms and other uses. Despite a positive recommendation from the Plan Commission and weeks of working with county staff to improve upon county concerns, Commissioner Phyllis Palmer said, “For years we’ve had people come to us with genuine concerns about flooding. We haven’t been able to help them much. I feel a strong obligation to the existing neighbors and to the people in the new development to not cause any further stress or pain in their lives.” Representatives of the Clermont Village project feel their additional work was not seen or considered by the Commissioners. “Frankly, the Commissioners’ decision is shocking,” said Elizabeth Link, Owner’s Representative for Clermont Village. “Even after a recommendation for approval at the Planning Commission, we contin-
ued to work with county staff to address engineering, infrastructure and drainage issues.” The project representatives say to correct flooding and drainage issues would come with “significant cost,” but they agreed in an effort to improve the Clermont Village development as well as a “decades-long problem of drainage in the larger area.” Their plan, they believe, would have significantly improved drainage for approximately 35 property owners to the north and south of County Road 450. “Instead of learning the facts, they assumed Clermont Village would exacerbate draining issues and denied the rezoning,” Link said. There is no doubt drainage and flooding issues have plagued the area for many years. Mark and Michaela Kaiser bought their property in 2002, adjacent to the old Clermont golf course. The home was originally 1000 square feet and after remodeling and additions, the home is 2800 square feet with a large, insulated and heated garage. Flooding was not a major problem until neighboring community, Clermont Lakes was built and then the couple began the decades-long battle to try to correct the problem as water ran into their yard and flooded their crawlspace.
Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition Effective During COVID-19 Crisis
Due to the current health crisis, some Hendricks County food pantries have made temporary changes to their distribution locations and hours, and some pantries have combined temporarily to better serve the community. For more updates, follow the Hendricks County Food Pantry Coalition on Facebook. AMO Storehouse Food Pantry 4794 Vine St. Amo, IN. 46103 317-966-3812 3rd Saturday of the month 10am12pm Clay Township & Mill Creek Residents only AVON Faith Lutheran Church 5706 E. CR. 100 North, Avon IN 46123 317-272-1022 Drive Thru Distribution 1st Friday of the Month 5pm-7pm, 3rd Saturday of the month, 9am – 11 am or by appt. “Choice Pantry” open to all – ID required Light & Life Food Pantry 8264 E Co Rd 100 S, Avon IN 46123 317-839-5151 Mondays 1:30 – 4 p.m.; last Monday 3:30 - 6 p.m. Hendricks County Residents; 2 visits per month Our Shepherd Lutheran 9201 E Co Rd 100 N, Avon IN 46123 317-271-9103 1st and 3rd Saturday 10 a.m. – noon Hendricks/ Marion County Zip codes: 46231 & 46234 *Pet Food Pantry open during food pantry hours when product is available Mary Lee Maier Community Pantry Avon Intermediate School East - Visit avon-schools.org for guidelines and registration information. BROWNSBURG Cornerstone Christian Church 8930 N State Rd 267, Brownsburg IN 46112
317-852-2411 2nd and 4th Saturday each month, 9-11 a.m. Messiah Lutheran 801 S Green St, Brownsburg IN 46112 317-852-2988 Drive Thru Distribution Saturday’s 10 am – noon Clothing Pantry will be open as well Hendricks County Residents; One visit per month CAMBY Active Grace Food & Hygiene Pantry 10740 E. Co Rd 700 S., Camby, IN. 46113 Drive Thru Distribution Open Tuesday’s 4pm-6pm; Saturday’s 4pm – 6pm Serving Central Indiana CLAYTON Mill Creek Christian Support Center 96 East Kentucky St. Clayton, IN 46118 Drive Thru Distribution Open every Tuesday 5 pm – 7 pm Serving Everyone COATESVILLE Coatesville Food Pantry 5009 S Milton St. Coatesville IN 46121 Serves Coatesville 2nd Saturday, 10am – 12 noon DANVILLE Abundant Life Food Pantry 11003 W. Lincoln St. Danville, IN 46122 Distributing in Pantry (Masks Required & Maintain Social Distancing) Clothing/Food Pantry Open 2nd Thursday of the Month Seniors 55+ hours 12pm – 2pm & All ages 5pm- 7pm Seniors 55+ hours 12pm – 2pm & All ages
5pm- 7pm Hendricks County Senior Services 1201 Sycamore Ln, Danville IN 46122 317-745-4303 Must be 60 & over and reside in Hendricks County Monday – Friday 8 am – 4 pm. must make an appt. Shared Blessings Food Pantry (Danville United Methodist Church) 820 W Mill St. Danville, IN 46122 317-745-4330 Drive Thru Distribution Tuesday 6 pm – 7:30 pm; Saturday 10 am – 12 noon Proof of residency; Hendricks County residents only HAZELWOOD Hazelwood Christian Church 9947 S Co Rd 0, Clayton IN 46118 317-539-6157 3rd Monday, 1 – 3 p.m. Valid ID required; Drive thru distribution NEW WINCHESTER Whitestone Food Pantry 8045 W US 36, Coatesville, IN 46121 317-539-6029 / 317-223-7979 1st Saturday of month 9 – 10:30 a.m. 3rd Wednesday 5 – 6:30 p.m. Marion & Floyd Twp. / Hendricks & Putnam Co NORTH SALEM North Salem Christian Church 6 N California St, North Salem IN 46165 765-676-6969 Distributing in Church 1st Saturday of the month 9 am – 11 am Eel River & Union Townships North Salem United Methodist Church 104 W Pearl St, PO Box 238, North Salem IN 46165 765-676-6501 Drive Thru Distribution 1st Wednesday of the month 6pm-7pm 3rd Saturday of the month 9 am – 11:00am PITTSBORO Shepherd’s Shelves (Pittsboro Christian Church) 209 N Meridian St. Pittsboro, IN 46167 (Enter Meridian St parking lot across from school) 317-892-3245
“They dug the drainage ditches a few feet deeper, but the water literally goes over the top of the ditch, and every time a car drives by, it sends a wake into my front yard. It’s buckling the driveway,” Michaela said. In 2020, the couple’s crawlspace flooded so badly they had to replace all the duct work, purchase another sump pump and hire an excavation crew to correct the property damage. They’ve purchased 20 triaxles of dirt to build up their property, only to have the crews come through and repave County Road 450, raising the road level higher. Though they’ve spent $6,000 in just the past year on flooding issues, they’ve been told by the county they could build a retention pond in their backyard and continue to work to improve the flooding issues. At one point, county representatives told them the price tag to alleviate their situation would be 60 million or more. “I don’t care if it’s a mosque, a synagogue, a Christian community, Baptist community or a circus tent with circus people, trying to build anything on that property is only going to make the water that much worse,” Michaela said. The couple appreciated Palmer’s comments at the Commissioners meeting. “I was happy about it. I have lived in Hendricks County for years, I pay taxes, I vote and I put people in there to look out for my concerns. We were aggravated at the first meeting (Plan Commission). We were told not to come to the meeting and to write letters. We wrote letters and wanted to know why our letters weren’t being read? We were frustrated that our voices weren’t being heard, so hopefully the people we’ve elected will look out for our interests and I personally, think they did,” Michaela said. The Kaisers say next month, when the snow has melted and the spring rain comes Mark will have to constantly monitor the water level. At times, Michaela has taken the vents off of the house inside and Mark has used a cup to ladle water out of the vent system. “The county doesn’t know what to do,” Michaela said. “They need to put in street sewers but where will the water run off to? They can’t go north because of the highway and to the east is the railroad tracks. I heard [at the Plan Commission meet 1st & 3rd Saturday each month 10 a.m. - noon Hendricks County Residents Only; Drive thru distribution PLAINFIELD Graceway Fellowship 8446 Co Rd 700 S, Plainfield IN. 46168 317-800-5509 1st Monday of the month 9 a.m. - noon; 3rd Thursday 9 a.m. – noon Serving Hendricks County St. Stephens Lutheran Church 1001 Concord Rd. Plainfield, IN. 46168 317-840-0380 Drive Thru Distribution 4th Saturday of month 9 am – 11 am Hendricks County/ ID Required Plainfield Church Federation Food Pantry (St. Marks) 710 E Buchanan St. Plainfield IN 46168 317-767-0365 Drive Thru Distribution Wednesday’s 9am-11:15am (Closed on the 1st Wed) 1st Thursday of the month 5pm7pm 1st, 2nd, 5th Saturday 9 am – 11 am Hendricks County residents, Proof of Current Address Two Visits per month STILESVILLE Stilesville Christian Church Food Pantry (Gleaners Mobile Food Panry) 8425 Morgan St. PO Box 237 Stilesville, IN. 46180 317-539-6383 First Wednesday of every other month 4:00-6:00pm No ID Required Bring your own bags & boxes Dates are weather permitting PET FOOD PANTRIES Hendricks County Friends of the Shelter Call for info: 317-410-9167 Hendricks County Humane Society Call 317-745-3338, leave a message clearly stating name, phone #, type and number of pets and any special needs. Will be filled as best as we can. You will be called and given times for pick up. __________
ing] one physician talking about building a $500-700,000 home and I’m thinking, ‘you are talking about a huge investment here. You wouldn’t build a home on an earthquake fault. Your homes are going to be under water as well’. The Kaisers are happy the county has recognized the issue. After years of meeting with surveyors and commissioners, they believe the county’s hands are tied financially. “I hope it brings more attention to the water situation and the county needs to address it,” Michaela said. “This has been going on for decades and the county knows it.” One thing is for sure, the county is well aware of the problem’s neighbors have faced with water drainage. However, Link says the county knows exactly what to do and the Clermont Village project would have fixed all that. The discrepancy leaves members of the community asking, ‘what happened’? If the county is aware of a flooding and drainage issue and have been unable to help current residents, why then, when they had a petitioner willing to come in and fix the problem, didn’t they accept the offer? Some feel the issue doesn’t surround drainage and flooding at all. Muslim Advocates also weighed in on the decision. They feel the decision is a result of a “bigoted online campaign”. “Hendricks County is opening itself up to an expensive and unnecessary religious discrimination lawsuit,” said Matt Callahan, senior staff attorney for Muslim Advocates. “The commissioners’ supposed concerns about stormwater are not an appropriate ground to deny the application and are worryingly similar to other, equally unfounded claims about water quality commonly deployed to thwart Muslim developments. He added, “The evidence shows that Hendricks County is holding this project to a different standard that other projects – all against the backdrop of a nasty, anti-Muslim campaign. The county is discriminating against Muslims, showing hostility to freedom of worship and could pay a hefty financial price for it.” Legal repercussions are yet to be seen. The Republican reached out to county representatives and were told the county does not have a comment at this time.
Obituaries
(M o r e O b i t u a r i e s
on
JOYCE EILEEN (Quade) ALLING, 91, died Monday, February 8, 2021, at Traditions at Reagan Park in Avon. She grew up in Seymour, Indiana, where she was born March 6, 1929 to Charles H. and Imogene Glasson Quade. She was a member of St. Paul Congregational Church, and graduated from Shields High School. She went on to Hanover College and studied English literature. On December 29, 1950, in Seymour, she married Emery E. Alling. They lived throughout the United States and in Puerto Rico as a homemaker and a career US Army dental officer. In 2003, he preceded her in death. Survivors include children Janis Alling (late John) Adams, Jane Alling (Jim) Spencer, and Kenneth (Nancy Horn) Alling; grandchildren Kristina Alling (JP) Humphrey, Angie Spencer, Hannah (fiancé Jacob Hemrick) Alling, and Eric Alling; and great-grandchild Claire Humphrey. Also, niece Betsy (Daniel) Fleetwood and nephew John (Kay Wilson) Fox, children of Mrs. Alling’s late sister Marjorie Quade (James) Fox. Services will be conducted graveside at Riverview Cemetery, Seymour. Arrangements: Conkle Funeral Homes. ________________________
The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand. The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land. The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains..... For every joy that passes, something beautiful remains. Anonymous
P a g e s A-9 & A-14)
CHESTER L. DILLON, 79, Indianapolis, passed away February 8, 2021. He was a US Air Force veteran (1960-64) and was an over-the-road commercial truck driver for many years. He worked at Dart and at Bowman and he had also been a machinist for Schweitzer Co. Chet enjoyed fishing with his many Air Force friends in various locations over the years. He was preceded in death by his parents Chester A. and Anice Dillon; sisters Darlene Easterday and Connie Greve. Survivors include his sister Priscilla Dillon; daughter Mary Janetta; nephews Tracy Easterday and Kevin Greve; niece Tasha Hubbard; four grandchildren. A graveside service tookplace Friday, February 12, at the Clayton Cemetery, Clayton. Contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org. Arrangements: Matthews Mortuary, Brownsburg. _______________________ HANNAH MAE KING, age 24, of Indianapolis passed away Tuesday February 9, 2021 at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis. She was born December 29, 1996 in Indianapolis to Doug and Melissa Sue (York) King. She was a waitress at Texas Roadhouse. She was a 2015 graduate of Brownsburg High School. Hannah is survived by her father, Doug (Paula) King of Indianapolis, her son Niko Reed Piper and his father Worthy Piper of Avon, two brothers James Martin of Dixon, Tenn. and Charles King of Nashville, Tenn., two sisters Kaitlyn Martin of Dixon, Tenn., and Embry Quintana of Indianapolis; her Aunt Beth and Uncle Jeff who helped raise her when her mom passed away. She was preceded in death by her mother Melissa Sue (York) King, and her grandparents. A Celebration of Her life will be held at a later date. a Arrangements: Indiana Memorial
