By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
A dog park could be in the future for Prairie Township.
“I would like to ask the board for permission to apply for the Bark the Park Grant,” said James Gant, director of the community center at a recent board meeting. “This is a $25,000 grant done each year to establish dog parks.”
The township owns approximately 20 acres of property at 161 Cole Road, which could be used as space for a dog park.
“We have looked at adding a dog park here, as well as a community garden and a natural play area,” Gant said. “However, first we need grants.”
In order to setup the community garden, the township is looking at adding water access to the area via a well and tank.
The trustees granted permission for Gant to apply for the grant.
In other news, the board discussed demolishing homes on Tamara Avenue and Alton Road to help alleviate the flooding issues.
Residents from Tamara Avenue have voiced their concerns with flooding on the street, saying the issue has continued to worsen.
“I have had flooding numerous times at my home on Tamara Avenue,” said George Polling, township resident. “I don’t know what to do at this point and am on the verge of selling my home. I don’t want to, but I can’t keep dealing with this.”
Resulting in several feet of water every time a heavy rainstorm passes through, residents also complained of not being able to park on the street because the water gets so high they can’t get out.
As a result of these concerns, the township is looking at demolishing certain properties.
“There are two houses on Alton Road and a property on Tamara that have more than one flood insurance claim and are eligible for a grant to remove the houses,” said Tracy Hatmaker, township administrator. “The homeowners would be responsible for 12.5 percent of the removal costs. If the homes were demolished, the properties could be used to help relieve flooding on the road using grading, rain gardens and maybe more structural features.”
While township officials cannot promise the improvements will occur or the homes will be torn down, they did acknowledge it is serious concern to them that they are looking into options.
