PERU, Ind. (AP) – Owners of six dams in a housing addition near Peru plan to meet with Indiana Department of Natural Resources officials to appeal a mandate they drain them or spend $1.5 million to repair the structures.

The Kokomo Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/1ynD9fR ) the DNR sent letters to residents who own portions of the dams in October saying they had failed to keep the structures in safe condition. The letter also was sent to the Miami County Board of Commissioners, which maintains roads on some dams.

The DNR said the owners and the county had 30 days to hire a certified engineer to inspect the structures, or face civil penalties. Dam owners appealed the mandate and are now set to make the case they shouldn't be responsible for repairing the structures.