Surveyor asks county commissioners to consider expanding regulated drains across Youngs Creek watershed

Johnson County surveyor Greg Cantwell asked the drainage board for permission to approach the county commissioners with a plan to expand regulated drain coverage in the Youngs Creek watershed. Cantwell said preliminary mapping showed several unregulated segments where existing ditches and municipal stormwater outfalls discharge into Youngs Creek and that bringing those reaches into the regulated‑drain system would allow coordinated maintenance and hearings.

Cantwell outlined three elements he planned to present to commissioners: extend the existing Brewer regulated drain to its confluence with Youngs Creek, designate the Gilmore drainage area as a regulated drain, and consider the remainder of Youngs Creek as a regulated drain. He said a formal hearing to establish regulated drains requires either a petition from at least 10% of property owners who benefit, or a formal request from a municipality or the commissioners.

Board members asked that staff meet individually with affected municipal and county commissioners before taking the issue to a public meeting so commissioners understand the technical rationale. The drainage board voted to authorize Cantwell to approach the county commissioners and request a hearing on the proposed watershed expansion; if the commissioners request a hearing, the drainage board would set a formal hearing date, send out notices and hold a public hearing on the proposed regulated drain designations.

Cantwell said the proposed change would involve multiple municipalities (Bartersville, Greenwood, New Whiteland, Whiteland and Franklin) and that staff would coordinate with municipal engineers. The board approved the motion by voice vote.