Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ditch Repair topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board orders County Ditch 89 repairs after tree clearing reveals greater damage and higher costs
Summary
After trees were removed from County Ditch 89, engineers found additional damage and increased the repair estimate; the drainage authority ordered repairs and the board approved financing for an updated estimated project cost of about $330,000.
Blue Earth County commissioners on Sept. 23 heard an amended engineer's repair report for County Ditch (CD) 89 and approved an order to proceed with repairs after clearing trees revealed additional damage and increased estimated costs.
Drainage staff and ISG engineers told the board that tree and brush removal completed last winter exposed more severe ditch deterioration than initially visible. The engineer's amended report describes side-slope failures, increased sediment depths (more than 2 feet in places), meandering, and an undersized crossing on Spur 1. Craig (county ditch staff) and engineers Chuck Bridal and Josh James presented the updated scope and cost estimates.
Why it matters: repairs affect adjacent landowners, drainage performance and future assessments; the board must approve financing and order repairs under ditch statutes and local drainage authority procedures.
Key findings and proposed work: engineers said the Blue Earth County portion of the CD 89 watershed is about 963 acres (the overall downstream system spans roughly 16,000 acres including upstream systems in neighboring counties). Work proposed after additional survey and borings includes regrading the ditch to its original cross section, removing about 13,000 cubic yards of sediment and common excavation, spreading spoils within the buffer and fields as needed, replacing the undersized Spur 1 crossing with a 60-inch reinforced concrete pipe culvert (engineers said the mainline 16-by-8 box culvert improved in 2021 is in good condition and will be cleaned but not replaced), and installing grade-control structures (ASI and ASI-RO features) to reduce future bank failure. Engineers estimated total project costs at approximately $330,000 — about $100,000 higher than the prior estimate.
Funding and process: engineers said administration, engineering and bonding costs were largely unchanged but construction costs rose due to the additional excavation and repair scope. ISG indicated it will pursue grant funding from the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for some grade-control installations. Staff noted low landowner attendance at informational meetings but reported receiving some phone inquiries.
Board action: after opening the public hearing and receiving no public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the updated repair documents and to order the repairs; the board approved the motion. Staff said they may seek bids quickly with a view to performing work this late fall or early spring to minimize crop damage.
Context and limitations: CD 89 was established in 1963 and has seen limited improvement work aside from a 2021 box culvert upgrade. Some repair elements will occur within or adjacent to required buffer zones; engineers described spoil-spreading plans and erosion-control measures. The meeting record shows no public speakers at the hearing; staff emphasized outreach and the statutory hearing notice and publication steps were completed.
Ending: the order authorizes staff to proceed with bid solicitation and repair work subject to financing and required permits; staff will update the board on bid results and implementation timelines.
