[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=34720.34

Group: No Cash For Repairs If Levees Break
LA PORTE - Due to recent flooding and at least four levee breaks in Northwest Indiana, the Kankakee River Basin Commission has run out of money to repair any future breaks in the system.

KRBC Director Jody Melton made the announcement at Wednesday's La Porte County Drainage Board meeting.

"It is my understanding that the river has not seen these levels since the early '80s," she said, "and there is speculation that the river may reach the highest levels in recorded history."

Melton said as the river rises, she expect there will be a levee or two to break.

"As most of you know, there were four levee breaks - one in La Porte County, one in Jasper County and two in Porter County," she said. "Those were fixed recently and bills have been submitted."

She said the total to fix the four breaks, along with removing a log jam in Porter County and a log jam removal scheduled at Lake County's State Line Bridge, is more than $95,000.

That leaves the KRBC with an emergency fund of $35,000, she said.

"We would like the contractors to get paid, but covering the existing bills will deplete our accounts," Melton said. "The KRBC has no money left to close broken levees. We are now at the mercy of the individual counties along the river to cover any oncoming emergencies."

She said if any of the counties are not able to handle that emergency, it would be forwarded to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which would contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Reso-urces Conservation Service, National Guard or other agencies for help.

"It is very important that the state be contacted," Melton said. "Any work done that is not pre-authorized will not be reimbursed."

Anyone with questions should contact Melton at the KRBC office, 6100 Southport Road in Portage, or call (219) 763-0696.