[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6139260,"mediaKeyId","5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c","parentId",5581256,"title","Commissioners to send letter after private structure blocks county bridge access at Stockport Drive","audioSeconds",285,"startMs",1381000,"endMs",1666000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c&start=1381&end=1666","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c/thumbnail_1381000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6139260/Delaware-County/Indiana/Commissioners-to-send-letter-after-private-structure-blocks-county-bridge-access-at-Stockport-Drive","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139260-4be38fc740efc0471b3836c093d67eb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775742004&Signature=Vt1copNiT5SKC8PuteTF4b3XQj4YBIlOM1w5Zyp7bXGYQDo-zDHZS-1NElmnH3t5i-CnU0NgK-RYTP0Vr~dYJor7Jxb4qOR~yORc~cvYXBtTJx43S-PumaT2NPzK93HHs-lDQWKeWgYR6KLiQ651XKTblra4bOFHfRp6Zw2bmPP2uR4juAywMY8CZL0Tlb99dwTzcXikmRrHuJDPYvDDkYlC6NFuRdwFePPJY8VkTKti2WlCE-GzDHmiLD0ommqU49LqoZPQL10V6Z7YYu~V7TxKCLTO4nJPBrwXDsk85TJZ477x0DVRyZDky0yt5FdQWiT0mX9gczJUlchrLwA8lA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Delaware County CA","date","2025-08-14T02:07:37Z","article","Delaware County Commissioner Steven Brand told the Drainage Board on Aug. 13 that property owners near Stockport Drive refused to sign a proposed agreement to accept ongoing responsibility for a private structure that spans a county drain. “We sent them 1 letter already saying, hey. If you'll sign this, we'll do it, and you guys are gonna take responsibility for it going forward,” Brand said. “And they refused to sign those letters. So we're gonna send them a letter that says we are gonna do the work and you are still responsible for it going forward.”
Brand said the structure is effectively a private driveway crossing and that while it is on county inventory for reference, it has not been inspected or maintained by the county and remains a private structure. He said the county’s impetus is public safety: if emergency vehicles must cross the structure, the county cannot delay response. The county plans to send a registered follow‑up letter and coordinate mowing and contractor access to complete the small drainage work that was bid earlier in the year.
Board members discussed timing of the work and agreed staff may proceed with contractor mowing and small structure work in late summer if bids and right‑of‑way access permit. Staff also said they will coordinate with the county highway department to time work and will update the surveyor’s map to reflect the current routing where the drain was rerouted in past decades.
No vote to replace or remove the private structure was taken at the meeting; the county’s stated plan is to notify the landowners that the county will perform the work and that the owners will be responsible for future costs if they do not sign the maintenance agreement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Drainage Board Meeting August 13th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","County commissioners said they will send a formal letter to private property owners whose driveway structure crosses a regulated drain at Stockport Drive, notifying them the county will repair the structure if they decline to sign a maintenance agreement that keeps owners responsible.","taxTitle","Delaware County, Indiana","taxId",4305,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6139264,"Board tables petition over pond spoil that neighbors say blocked natural runoff",790,2348000,3138000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c&start=2348&end=3138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c/thumbnail_2348000.jpg","/articles/6139264/Delaware-County/Indiana/Board-tables-petition-over-pond-spoil-that-neighbors-say-blocked-natural-runoff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139264-7c50775d704f324299136b42da01eed3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775742004&Signature=fCJWYP7w4~KtnISMcyv8UQcSpAvIjHOe2cSYOWrijwb5rKyPD3ltDMIoRGEcmGCoF61KJWz0gludTs4s-ElQOeO~UqKVviuF49kql5HW1hTXUw29RivafhM5FGWqDhPP-ouXIz-e4qfOV-12xpkF6GIj6XQubI7O6ZPsMj6MhlUCIj9J3ywwprMFkuuy0CXyIWatRaBLQyulsYlgTPgFfkSx17esu8nsuGRnulx2G4PEvxUAVBZcjJ0lsseLwcULzy4bn1rKM4uvhGfkSihFaLgKtpjbhQTuVLmKZxe-vSRl7dTnWA4oWiuQ9IuNyPFMwIXNdnFMyefJKQNa5STYAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Wayne Johns, of 8309 East County Road 350 North, petitioned the Delaware County Drainage Board on Aug. 13 to remove a 0‑to‑4‑foot embankment of clay spoil on a neighboring property that he says blocks natural runoff and has created standing water on his land. “Standing water has never been an issue before the obstruction was constructed,” Johns said, asking that the spoil at the east side of Brandy Hoff’s pond be removed to restore pre‑construction overland flow.
Brandy Hoff, the property owner at 8209 East County Road 350 North, told the board she followed Department of Natural Resources recommendations and state law when constructing the pond and that the property has had surface water issues “for greater than 2 years.” “I followed the DNR recommendation,” Hoff said, adding she set the pond back more than the 75 feet the county required and that she believes the Johns’ claims predate her work.
The board’s attorney and surveyor reviewed the matter on the record. The attorney said Indiana code defines natural surface water course and that a landowner may file a request to have an obstruction moved, but he counseled that because the embankment lies more than 75 feet from the regulated county drain, “it appears to be a civil issue” and the board has discretion whether to act. The surveyor suggested a compromise that would preserve the embankment while restoring flow: installing a driveway‑sized culvert under the spoil to allow water to pass where it flowed previously.
Johns disputed the civil‑matter framing and presented photos and a tree‑health argument he said show the standing water is new and caused by the spoil. The board asked staff to investigate further and examine mapping and flow lines; the board’s attorney said the statute gives the board discretion but not an obligation to remedy such obstructions.
After discussion, a board member moved to table the petition while staff investigates; another member seconded, and the motion passed on roll call. No order requiring removal or repair was issued at the meeting. The board did not set a deadline for its follow‑up investigation but asked staff to report back with locations, field observations and potential engineering options such as a culvert or partial grading change.","A dispute between neighbors over a spoil pile from a new pond that petitioners say has created standing water drew legal and factual debate; the board tabled the petition while staff investigates and suggested a potential compromise culvert solution.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6139270,"Board moves to rebid Racer Ditch clearing after contractor missed scope",1574,1694000,3268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c&start=1694&end=3268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c/thumbnail_1694000.jpg","/articles/6139270/Delaware-County/Indiana/Board-moves-to-rebid-Racer-Ditch-clearing-after-contractor-missed-scope","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139270-33e2747b8db1471f82d57cc0e934c147/orig.mp4?Expires=1775742004&Signature=dt~r2UJNYGg4VsCXPx3ily8Fi5t7DT9rpMrMx9G1IltDo-f5qizfJxDq2F5bXt09mBB9cN8fzpCVIAWXYwJ9iQajIfzk-F89qH~~vbUex-pozO5Csufg8rXnGdBE74fKMbpNezO5I1JTUC8nv2p-YtVRnYK-kfECAsOlMOJmzgjtIuSzz~6Gedt~DPS1SReGbNLb2bJbD7-lNRASl8yVm4xLpf61c~FEt5fIJFonOKGnYU~lzHJG2-InP4zkeO4HpNOvq~6aEL09zts0W3v7aScmsUtHL6O~TztyNuluRUcNfjWVXJPBmbUB8A1QTFIj0qU3Zm0I2draXK1~aqoT6Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dennis Rogers, a Dunkirk-area resident, told the Delaware County Drainage Board on Aug. 13 that clearing work on the Racer Ditch remains incomplete after a contractor missed the original 90‑day timeline and a subsequent 30‑day extension. “It’s not done,” the board’s surveyor told the meeting, adding that much of the cleared material had not been removed and many trees that should have been cut remained on site.
The surveyor said the contractor had cut only a small portion of the required bank width and had not chipped, hauled or burned debris as required under the contract. The surveyor also reported talking to other contractors who estimated the scope would be substantially higher if done correctly, noting previous bids of roughly $19,000, $39,000 and near $60,000.
Board members discussed rebidding the job. The surveyor said the work now requires more debris removal than in the original scope and recommended re‑quoting the job, contacting contractors with relevant experience, and including clearer inspection expectations. “It is over a $10,000 project,” the surveyor said, recommending a requote and telling staff to get specifications ready for the next month so bids can be opened.
The board also discussed contract administration: members asked staff to add a liquidated‑time provision and specified inspection frequency. The surveyor proposed retaining a 90‑day completion requirement in the specs and noted in prior, similar projects he typically visited the site two or three times during completion and conducted a final post‑invoice inspection.
There was also discussion of a claim for $19,000 submitted by an Arnold contractor for work that the surveyor said had not been completed; the board indicated it had not yet approved claims for this project and would consider next steps after rebidding. Board members instructed staff to prepare updated specs, reach out to additional contractors, and reopen bidding with explicit timelines and inspection requirements. No final contractor award was made at the meeting.","Board members said a contractor has not completed clearing work on the Racer Ditch, granted a short extension that expired, and directed staff to rebid the project and tighten specifications, including a 90‑day completion clause.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6139275,"Resident urges county action after repeated blowouts on Rector drain",2177,97000,2274000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c&start=97&end=2274","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5581256-eaa2c643703db818b124236b258c978c/thumbnail_97000.jpg","/articles/6139275/Delaware-County/Indiana/Resident-urges-county-action-after-repeated-blowouts-on-Rector-drain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6139275-2d6b9d3d1705092b41b39e4e7308cbac/orig.mp4?Expires=1775742004&Signature=kFgUYs~srktUn87ulprkbhM8Z7PSHQrNN7K4PlCjKsZjVrYw-K5rFtCun5NOV8DmCUQvzg5M-ytglOIqqq2YBifPe6VgQ973nqyaQ5mV84gGbzZDjwlzpRuubXKI6woRw5DP7EdSnRdDqr0c3R3bgYoXSu4qn2u6pYHGNwZPuG6B2JWWUkeYizW4INYj98EwRDDnb4n4KWD6hBoBlNnXAB9WitNNp6S0zCRwKlCYLxd3KnONmHv1FysCsPmfVhyIfzLqt2ub4-lSZBxsP9SG90LQNCQaYbpckwb0wkW-LEyPV3pQLmQ3QEFN237g-AprXXuFdhkhU~KOoNf5X6FqZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cody Light, a resident at 9800 North County Road 525 West in Gaston, told the Delaware County Drainage Board on Aug. 13 that repeated failures in the Rector county drain have left about four acres of his ground unusable after heavy spring rains. “I’ve had issues with it since I moved there,” Light said, recounting a major blowout the county repaired on June 1, 2022, and additional failures in subsequent years.
The board’s surveyor staff told Light they had inspected flagged depressions after his calls and that contractor Brad Butler has been assigned to the repairs. “He’s got it. It’s right on his list,” the surveyor said, adding the contractor will “reshoot it” with a transit and put in extra plastic where the line was unstable. The staff also said parts of the tile route run under wooded swamp and through goods owned by Greg Cox and that some of the line is an older 18-inch clay tile that may require televising (a scope) to identify root intrusion or collapse.
Light described that tile laid through the woods appears to run “uphill” in places and said past private work using unmarked equipment may have altered grades. He said the pipe was sometimes “about half full” when flowing and that he continued to experience multi‑day surface flooding in spring rains. The surveyor acknowledged communication and access problems and told Light the best time to map and locate the tile would be in the fall when foliage is down and work crews can trace the outlet at the daylight.
Board staff also agreed to explore a service improvement Light suggested: a digital submission form on the county website so residents can file complaints about tile blowouts, logjams and drain problems. “We’ve kinda did a lot of more stuff on the web this year, and that seems like something that could be very easily put on there,” the surveyor said, noting GIS already maintains many digital forms.
The surveyor described the stretch as a candidate for eventual reconstruction because it crosses several wooded swales and older tile, but said short-term work will include a transit survey, targeted plastic repairs and, if needed, televising the line to find blockages. No formal reconstruction plan or funding schedule was approved at the meeting.
Light and other residents also raised the county’s follow-up practices, saying calls had sometimes gone unanswered or been relayed incompletely through office staff. The surveyor apologized for communication gaps and said crews planned to return to the field as weather and crop access permitted.
The board did not take formal action on the Rector drain at the meeting but directed staff to keep the repair on the contractor’s list, to consider televising the tile where indicated and to consult GIS about a digital reporting form. Those are implementation directions rather than formal votes.","A property owner told the Delaware County Drainage Board he has experienced repeated tile blowouts and spring flooding along the Rector drain and pressed county staff for repairs, clearer follow-up and a digital reporting option.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners to send letter after private structure blocks county bridge access at Stockport Drive

Board tables petition over pond spoil that neighbors say blocked natural runoff

Board moves to rebid Racer Ditch clearing after contractor missed scope

Resident urges county action after repeated blowouts on Rector drain