County surveyor: Jackson Farm detention pond largely compliant; bond release contingent on seeding

The County Drainage Board authorized staff to close the inspection file for Jackson Farm and gave the county surveyor authority to release the performance bond after on-site confirmation that final seeding and mulching have been completed. Surveyor said the pond is otherwise compliant following a drone survey, though the finished pond is "roughly 8 feet shorter than it should have been."

The recommendation followed a presentation by the surveyor, who said the county used drone cross-sections and exhibits to compare the constructed pond to the approved profile. The surveyor told the board that the pond "is complete, and they have complied with the drainage order," but noted that seeding, "grama," and mulching had not been finished as of the most recent inspection and must be confirmed before the bond is released. The surveyor asked the board to "authorize me to ask Tom to release the bond" once he confirmed the planting had been done.

Board members moved and seconded a motion giving the surveyor authority to treat the matter as closed and to release the bond if the remaining grading and seeding are verified; the motion carried 2-0. The board did not set a specific follow-up deadline in the meeting.

The surveyor and the chair also discussed the county's use of drones for topographic and volumetric checks, with the surveyor noting the equipment can generate accurate profiles and show features such as "200 grain trenches." The surveyor added the office will need to replace the current drone model in the future because the manufacturer no longer makes it.

Discussion only: board members praised the technology and confirmed the procedural step that staff will verify completion of the seeding and mulching before bond release. Direction: the board authorized the surveyor to close the file and to request bond release after verification. Formal action: motion carried 2-0 to give the surveyor that authority.