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Show Centerville Must Decide On Covering Greek By GARY R. BLODGETT CENTERVILLE - Whether or not to cover an open creek is a major problem to city officials. of-ficials. But the problem becomes even more complex when some of the residents want it covered and others don't. THIS IS the situation facing Centerville City Council. "We've been battling this problem for a long time. We've even changed our minds a time or two trying to do what's best for the majority of people in the area," commented Mayor Golden Allen as the council heard arguments still another time for and against covering Duel Creek which flows through the Duel Creek subdivision. sub-division. MRS. ELLEN Adamson, one of about seven property owners adjacent to the creek, -said she is concerned about city plans to cover the open stream "because the creek enhances our property and we bought the home and property because of the open creek." Andy Archer, a neighbor, said he, too, would like to see the creek left open but would prefer to have the creek channeled through a culvert than to have the stream rip-rapped rip-rapped as is being done. "THE RIP-RAP job is very poorly done and inadequate," he said. "I wouldn't mind the creek being left uncovered if that's what the others want. But I'd rather have it covered than the rip-rap that's being done." Mayor Allen said the city council has agreed to install a culvert and cover the stream at a cost to the city of $10, 170. "THIS IS the position the council now takes, unless they change their mind," the mayor said. He noted that the council had earlier voted against covering the creek and later changed their vote in favor of installing the culvert and covering the stream for safety of the nearby residents. A 42-INCH culvert will be installed along 1,400 feet of, the creek, the mayor said. The city and the developer will share in the total cost. Construction on the culvert will begin in August and be completed later this fall. MRS. ADAMSON told the council that she was not notified no-tified about any petition being circulated seeking the city to cover the creek. "But when we found out, we wanted to voice our opposition against it," she said. "We 1 ' paid extra for the property because of the open creek and we want it left uncovered." HOME OWNERS were advised ad-vised that if the council does not change its decision, the creek will be covered with about one foot of top soil above the culvert. "This will allow property owners to have a garden or lawn over the existing creek," the mayor said. COUNCILMAN Dale W. Ford said he did not expect the council to change its decision again. "We are convinced that there will be serious flood problems if the creek is not covered," he said. "We must consider all residents of the rea and it's apparent that the vast majority want the creek covered." |