By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH

Indiana Correspondent

BROWNSBURG, Ind. — The Hendricks County drainage board has approved a drainage plan – including two contested retention ponds – for a new four-mile stretch of highway.

The plan passed by a vote of 3-1 on August 14. The road will be an extension of the Ronald Reagan Parkway from County Road 600 North to County Road 1000 North. The ponds will be on the 2,500-acre farm of Mike Starkey, who opposes their placement on his property. The highway won’t go through his farm.

Starkey said the ponds will make about 35 acres of his farm useless. He’s also concerned about the viability of a $4.5 million water monitoring project he’s had on his farm for seven years (this dispute was the subject of an article in Farm World earlier this month).

John E. Ayers, county engineer, said the county will continue with preparations for the construction of the highway. Officials have applied for a federal “build grant” and hope to hear back after the first of the year. A percentage of local money will be required to complete the project.

County officials have discussed options if the federal grant doesn’t come through. “The county commissioners have committed to building (the road) one way or the other,” he noted. “If necessary, they’ll have to look for additional funding sources.”

Starkey hopes the grant request will be declined. “Right now, the ponds will be on my property,” he noted. “The water monitoring project will go down the tubes. The road project should not interfere with the water monitoring project.

“My hope is now the general public will contact their legislators and make it a point to say that this is not right. My hope is there will be enough lobbying done so they will not receive the grant.”