River dweller upset about source of flood relief funds
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Moving up Gene Rossetter stands in front of his flood-damaged home as workers he hired move it to higher ground away from the Tippecanoe River. Rossetter said he felt Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) should have foreseen the need to release more water ahead of recent storms that caused flooding. "They used to do it all the time," he explained. "I don't know why they stopped, but it's a big problem for those below the dam." He said he received a check from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to rebuild but was not going to use taxpayers' money for the work until it was moved to a safer location. "I'm going to move my house before NIPSCO causes it to get flooded again," Rossetter said Friday. "I feel bad using taxpayers' hardearned money when NIPSCO caused the problem. It's the same for a lot of us along the river. It'll just happen again if something isn't done." Comet photo by Kevin Schnepp

It isn't that Carroll County resident Gene Rossetter doesn't appreciate the government's generosity - he simply doesn't think taxpayers should have to pay for others' mistakes.

Rossetter owns property on the Tippecanoe River near CR525W. He said his grandfather purchased the land in 1932 and began to build homes for family members there in 1940. He said family still stays in other dwellings on the property during the year.

Rossetter's home was situated on the bank of the river until last week, but he paid to have it moved a quarter of a mile from the river after recent record flooding damaged his home. He said he did so because he wanted to keep from having his home condemned at the will of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and he was concerned about where the money came to pay for the damage.

"I was told by (Carroll County Zoning Administrator) Dale Huffer my home could be condemned if damage was over 50 percent of the home's assessed value," Rossetter explained to the Comet. "They can't do that. I'm going to move my house before the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) causes it to get flooded again."

Rossetter said he was grateful for a check he received from FEMA to repair his home, but felt the burden should not have been placed on taxpayers' shoulders. He maintained that NIPSCO created the record flood by not operating the gates in a responsible manner.

"They (NIPSCO) used to let out water to prepare for rising levels," he said. "Why did it stop, what changed this, and why is FEMA giving away taxpayers' money because of a NIPSCO mistake?"

Rossetter said he greatly appreciated the financial help to build his home and did not use any of it to move the house. He said not he or any other "river rat" should have been put in the situation in the first place.

"The money will be spent on this house after I move it," he stated. "There are a lot of people who live up and down this river who need help and future protection. None of them should have had to go to FEMA for assistance, but they will need help and future protection."