MERRILLVILLE | A flooded portion of 101st Avenue near the Merrillville/Winfield border has been closed for more than six months, but the town plans to soon change that.

The Town Council on Tuesday unanimously declared an emergency situation to have the Public Works Department coordinate with outside contractor Delta 3 to open a ditch in a drainage easement, place a culvert in the ditch and regrade the ditch area.

The town also will rehabilitate 101st Avenue between Colorado and Arizona streets, Town Councilman Shawn Pettit said.

The town plans to fund the improvements through a Broadway tax increment financing district allocation, officials said, but also will seek reimbursement from John J. Rodriguez, a property owner near the flooding site, because they believe he caused the flooding by altering the drainage system.

"It's time we start addressing this issue firmly," Pettit said.

Town Manager Tim Brown said the town has declared an emergency situation for a couple of reasons.

He said a pending project to rebuild 101st Avenue between Broadway and Georgia Street has been delayed because of the flooded and closed street.

Brown said the town needs to take action immediately in order to save more than $500,000 in excess costs because an additional bypass road would have to be constructed in order to leave 101st Avenue open to traffic.

He also said emergency vehicles have difficulties getting in and out of the area because Lake County also has closed the bridge on 109th Avenue.

Pettit also said the closure of 101st Avenue has caused troubles for school buses, mail carriers and local residents.

In other business, the Town Council approved a special exception for a young adult dance club at 1500 E. 83rd Ave. even though councilmen had some concerns regarding the establishment.

Councilmen wondered how much security would be at the dance club for patrons 17 to 20 years old.

Petitioner Ed Malone said the club will provide adequate safety as he would hire two off-duty police officers in addition to his own security staff.

Malone also said the area needs something to keep young adults occupied.

"Otherwise they're out running in the streets," Malone said.

The Town Council approval came with several conditions, including the club can't be open on the same nights as Hooligan's nightclub, which caters to patrons 21 and older. There also will be a three-month review, and the club can't be open later than curfew laws allow younger patrons to be out.