Cindy DiFazio – Staff Writer

Several Ripley County residents who live along Merkel Road in Batesville came before Ripley County Commissioners, Robert Reiners and Chuck Folz on Monday, May 22 (Commissioner Lawrence Nickell was absent due to illness). Their purpose was to bring attention to the dangers of living along their stretch of roadway, and ask the commissioners’ help in resolving the problems.

Commissioners were told that since Highway 229 closed, Merkel has become a “by-pass” for local industrial park employees and others attempting to avoid Batesville traffic and stoplights. Residents, including Dennis LeBlanc, a retired police officer, reported vehicles traveling at speeds of up to 100 mph and people on 4-wheelers doing wheelies and driving at speeds up to 60 mph.

Tim Merkel, owner of a 120-acre historic family farm that sits on Merkel Road reported that to his knowledge there have been 24 accidents in the last 18 months on this 1-mile strip of roadway. “We’ve had about six accidents in the last three months,” Merkel told the group, “It’s not just that we’re having accidents, it’s the extent of the accidents. People are being air-cared!” Merkel went on to say, “We keep being told there’s not enough money (to fix the problems)” and in an impassioned plea, asked the commissioners, “What is a human life worth?”

Merkel informed the commissioners that he has attempted to obtain police reports of the multiple wrecks to share with the commissioners without much success. He stated, “When I come over to get reports they’re not there.” Robert Reiners, commissioner, stated that he had obtained three reports, including one alcohol-related accident, and suggested that perhaps many of the accidents were not serious enough to warrant police reports.

Compounding the problems are detrimental conditions inherent in the road. It is a narrow road that was not built to accommodate a large volume of traffic. A nine-foot wide bridge on the road has been the site of two serious accidents. There is not enough room on the side of the road to even accommodate a speed-limit sign, which is instead posted in the ditch.

Linda Gutzwiller, who drives a school bus route that includes Merkel Road, but could not attend the meeting due to a scheduling conflict, asked that those attending would relay her concerns to the commissioners. Gutzwiller said that approaching vehicles have to pull into driveways so that her bus can pass.

Adding insult to injury, the road and surrounding properties are being inundated with storm water originating at the industrial park. Merkel, referring to the industrial park’s storm water management program declared, “It has been engineered to fail.” Citing conversations with an IDEM representative, Merkel reported that the industrial park storm drains are much smaller than they are supposed to be. He went on to say that the companies in the park are responsible for fixing the problem, not the city of Batesville. “I can’t tell you where the ditch stops and my pond starts when it rains,” Merkel said. He related that he has spent $2,500 to clean his pond of runoff that included cans, milk jugs and insulation. He said that it’s killing the fish in his pond, and stated ironically, “I can’t get city water, but I get all the city’s water.”

Carol Merkel, who also lives on the road, stated that the culvert holding up her driveway has buckled and folded making it hazardous to use. “I won’t be able to get into my home,” she told the commissioners.

Commissioners Reiners and Folz patiently listened to the group’s concerns for more than an hour. They told the group that this has been a topic of discussion for several months, and reported that the bridge will be replaced this summer.

Construction on the bridge will start in the beginning of June. “We were waiting for school to let out,” Reiners explained. The bridge will be two feet wider than the road. The bridge’s concrete abutments will be replaced with guard rails. Reiners also stated, “We can try to widen the road a foot or so.”
Responding to complaints that the residents have been told the county does not have enough money for road improvements, Reiners assured, “Safety problems far outweigh money problems.”

The commissioners said that they would be willing to work with the city of Batesville on the storm water problems.

Commissioner Reiners also said he would request that the sheriff look into the problems concerning traffic violations and speeding. That could include beefed-up patrols in the area.

Merkel, acting as spokesperson for the group, told commissioners “You’re gonna get a lot of resident cooperation. If you ran into an obstacle I’d be surprised.”

In other business, Larry Eaton, town attorney for Holton, Milan, Napoleon and Versailles, approached the commissioners with a request on behalf of the towns he represents. All four towns are in need of help in enforcing the unsafe building code. Eaton told commissioners, “The problem we have is getting inspections.” The towns would like to have the county inspector, Steve Meyer, perform inspections on an “as needed” basis. Meyer would conduct the initial inspections, provide a written report and, if necessary, be an expert witness at trial.

Commissioner Chuck Folz brought up the question of whether the towns and county share a similar building code, making it feasible for Meyer to easily assess building conditions in the separate towns. Eaton responded that they all follow the same state guidelines. Commissioner Reiners added, “The county and towns should be on the same page.” There was discussion that Osgood and Sunman might also want to come on board. Eaton stated that he will contact these other towns’ attorneys. The commissioners and attorney, Neil Comer will decide the issue after going over documents to be prepared by Eaton. Commissioner Folz told Eaton, “We’re always willing to help the towns.”

Before adjournment, the commissioners reported that following Commissioner Lawrence Nickell’s recent heart attack, paramedic Don Bowman who rode in the back of the ambulance with Nickell, was instrumental in saving Nickell’s life. Commissioner Reiners stressed that Ripley County’s EMS personnel are to be commended, stating, “He (Paramedic Bowman) gave him (Nickell) everything he could.”

MIKE MAUNE PHOTOS The above picture shows how narrow Merkel Road is. Below is a picture of the deep ditches and the speed limit sign clearly marked at 35 mph.