Residents sign petition opposing Grubb Road closing

AMANDA TOWNSHIP - More than 140 people have signed a petition against the city of Lima's request of the county to close Grubb Road to build a reservoir.

Closing Grubb Road between state Route 81 and Agerter Road will reroute more traffic to an already busy Kemp Road, said Marjory and Rex Croft, who have lived on Kemp Road more than 50 years and lost their farmland to Bresler Reservoir.

"The traffic already starts at 5:30 a.m. and continues all day, because it's a straight shot between 81 and 117," Marjory Croft said. "The whole area is concerned about the [increased] traffic."

The city plans a $30 million, 640-acre 5.6 billion gallon reservoir directly west of Bresler, needed for development in the city and county. Lima wants Grubb Road closed to achieve needed water capacity and lessen construction costs.

Lima is aware of the petition, said Assistant Utilities Director Mike Caprella.

"It's not unexpected. We knew there would be opposition from the start," Caprella said. "It's why we have made some concessions on design for the residents of Amanda Township."

Township trustees oppose the closing and Allen County Engineer Tim Piper has voiced concerns about it. The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the matter Feb. 9 and the decision is theirs. The Crofts plan to present their petition at that public hearing.

Rex Croft, who excavates and builds ponds for a living, doesn't believe the city will realize its $1 million savings because of other costs it will incur and believes the city can get the added capacity it needs by making the bank of the reservoir a few inches higher.

With Grubb Road closed, some farmers in the area would have to travel on large machinery at least three miles out of their way to get to their ground, Rex Croft said.

The planned reservoir's design is already 8 feet higher than Bresler, Caprella said, and it can't go any higher. The costs of some things the city plans, including building an access road for emergency vehicles, adding fire hydrants to the water line for residents, and helping to widen Sunderland Road to handle more traffic will offset some of the savings, Caprella said, but gaining the capacity needed is more important to the city.