City Council approves annexation of Dunn Stadium site

A Bartholomew County park is on its way to being annexed by the city of Columbus. However, city and county officials stress that the park won’t be taken over by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department.

The Columbus City Council heard a request during its Tuesday night meeting to annex Dunn Stadium park, just north of the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Mayor Jim Lienhoop says that the city was approached by the County Commissioners to add the nearly 20-acre site to the city in order to bring city sewer and water service to the property. Jeff Bergman, city-county planning director, says that the property is currently served by a septic system and as plans to update restrooms on the site grow closer to reality, county officials recognized the benefits of connecting to the city’s sewer system. He says that, by law, the septic system there cannot be expanded, due to its proximity to wells used for the city’s water supply. That makes tapping in to the city’s water service, and annexation, the only option. Bergman also told council members that this request isn’t a surprise, as Keith Reeves, and other officials with Columbus City Utilities, have been kept up-to-date on the project.

Council members voted unanimously to approve the annexation on first reading. The second, and final, reading is expected to take place during the June 21st meeting of the Columbus City Council.