Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Editor, Times-Union:
It’s been a couple of months since my last letter, so I wanted to provide an update on the ongoing concerns surrounding the transparency and accountability of the Turkey Creek Dam & Dike Conservancy District (TCDDCD). I also believe it’s worth asking, once again, how this tax-levying government body justifies its continued budget.
It has now been over 60 days since I submitted written questions at the district’s second quarterly meeting regarding the standards and policies governing the “flood control structure function, maintenance, and improvements.” To date, those questions have not been answered.
In an effort to ensure accountability, I was left with no option but to file an official Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request, compelling the district under Indiana law to provide information that should already be readily available to the public.
For an organization that claims to operate transparently, this is concerning. Taxpayers should not have to jump through legal hoops just to access basic information about how their money is being used.
My next step will be to contact Indiana’s Public Access Counselor to review this situation and evaluate whether the district is meeting its legal obligations for openness and communication. This is especially important given that the district continues to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from property owners around Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake, many of whom may not realize that all the major repair projects for the dam and dike were completed as far back as 2020 and 2023.
That brings us to a simple, fair question: Why are local homeowners still paying hundreds of dollars in extra taxes each year for projects that have already been completed?
Our community deserves clear, timely answers and responsible management from every public entity entrusted with taxpayer dollars.
David Abrell
Syracuse, via email
