David Abrell raises questions before members of the Turkey Creek Dam and Dike at the districts quarterly meeting. Photo by Deb Patterson.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — The quarterly meeting of Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy District had close to 30 contentious minutes Friday, April 25, between a non-freeholder, the board and district’s attorney.

By the time the meeting ended, apologies on behavior were expressed all the way around.

David Abrell, who lives at Pier 365 on Hatchery Road, property owned by Gordon M. Hughes and Jennifer J. Abrell, but doesn’t pay taxes on the property, had emailed Bill Pipp, district president, about attending the meeting. Abrell had questions he wanted to address.

During the discussion of maintenance at the water control device, Abrell began his questioning of the board on that topic and then went into other topics he had on a list of eight questions. Among his questions was bidding on the maintenance repairs, asking why primary homeowners were paying a less rate than secondary homeowners, what was the proportion of taxpayers were paying taxes on secondary homes, questioned the timing on election of board members and requested his questions be added as an addendum to the minutes.

After being advised he had gone over the three-minute time allotment, Abrell stated he didn’t know there was a time limit and asked when public comment was allowed, how one goes about participating in the meeting and accused the board of making its own rules. During the disagreement regarding public comment, Abrell indicated Pipp was a liar in statements he had said and stated he had the email to prove it.

David Hollenbeck, the district’s attorney, disagreed with Abrell on several statements Abrell had made and tried to explain on several occasions state statute and requirements the district had to follow. During his explanations, Abrell interrupted the attorney several times, which Hollenbeck sternly asked to be allowed to continue.

Abrell, who at one point told of his qualifications for asking such questions, including the fact he worked for a lawyer with a nonprofit in Elkhart, indicating he knew the law. The qualifications he noted was he is president of the Master of Public Affairs Student Association and master of public affairs at Indiana University South Bend.

After an approximate 30-minute discussion, which appeared to be a debate between Abrell, Hollenbeck and Pipp, Board member Jim Silcox recommended taking Abrell’s questions into consideration and address the questions at the next quarterly meeting July 25.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to achieve in this discussion with the board and he (Hollenbeck) will respond. … there aren’t any dumb people in this room,” said Pipp, who noted there has never been any remonstrators to the district’s tasks, only support.”

Abrell continued interjecting questions and at one point accusing Pipp of taking all the credit for the work that was being done.

Pipp ended any further discussion by advising Abrell to respond to the district’s attorney and stating there would be no more comment. Yet, Abrell continued attacking the Lilly Lakes and Streams research on the economic impact the lakes have stating it was not true and he could prove it.

Following the adjournment of the meeting Abrell and Pipp both apologized for getting “off on the wrong foot.” Pipp stated the board makes sure no one spends money as if its their own and each member puts in a lot of time and effort, without any compensation.

“If I did get off on the wrong foot, I apologize,” Abrell stated adding, “I appreciate what you do, the time you put in,” adding the research he has done for a master’s thesis, is a hobby and “I got curious.”

Short A Board Member

The vacancy left by the resignation of Carolyn Anderson, who represents District 5, in February was addressed by Hollenbeck. He stated the board didn’t need to fill the remaining one-year term, but suggested the board be diligent in its search for a replacement.

Should no replacement be found prior to the scheduled District 5 election, the same protocols would be followed as with any other board seat election. That is a candidate must file the appropriate paperwork by a set time in December with the election taking place at the annual meeting in February 2026.

District board members approved four maintenance projects at the water control device, eliminating two items on the list that didn’t affect the maintenance work. These include eliminating removal of excess debris on the upstream side of the water control device spillway and installation of a bubbler system by Advanced Diving Inc.

The board had previously approved recommended repairs to the control device, repair of the gate area and seal and guide replacement, work on the control tower and annual cleaning and inspection, which included a dive inspection. This brings the maintenance cost down to $140,900 from the approved $180,800. All maintenance work is expected to be completed by June.

Pipp stated when the dive inspection is conducted, any major debris will removed on a one-time basis.

During the discussion, it was learned Jim Donahue had indicated a bubbler system could be installed at the cost of $6,000 compared to the $19,900 Advanced Diving suggested. The bubbler system would prevent ice damage to the control gates.

“It sounds like purchasing insurance,” Judy Roberts, board member, stated about the bubbler. “It’s better to have it than not have it.”

During the update of the lake level flow rate management technology, Jim Silcox, a board member, stated everything is functioning and delivering data as expected.

Al Tehan presented an excel spreadsheet his team created showing the calculated flow rate based on preliminary information and the position of the gates.

He gave an update on reports from the water control device, presenting an excel sheet of calculations of flow rates based on the interval of opening of the gates. Tehan stated they are working on more data but noted this is all preliminary and is nothing official. He is also working to develop a prediction algorithm.

During other matters, the board:

•Is still waiting on Kemp Electric to install electricity to the water control device building.

• A search is underway for an insurance carrier.

• Heard there has been an increase in traffic to the district’s website and other sites linking to the district’s site for water level and temperature information.

Emily Maggart, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation development officer, stated she has received zero phone calls from residents inquiring about the water level and temperature, due to the information on the district’s website.