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Johnson County proposes Youngs Creek drainage-impact rule, schedules municipal meetings; study cost estimated about $500,000
Summary
Surveyor Greg Cantwell introduced a draft drainage-impact resolution for the Youngs Creek watershed and said county staff plan municipal meetings Sept. 16 and Oct. 21; a watershed study to define ditch capacities was discussed with an estimated cost of roughly $500,000 and possible use of resulting capacity limits in an ordinance.
County surveyor Greg Cantwell told the Johnson County drainage board on Sept. 2 that staff have drafted a proposed drainage-impact resolution for the Youngs Creek watershed and plan to meet with nearby municipalities starting Sept. 16 to begin a study and public process.
Cantwell described the draft as "the proposed drainage impact resolution" that would align allowable discharge with measured ditch capacity so that permitted runoff would not exceed local channels. He said staff added an area between Grassy Creek and Powell and that the watershed map now includes Roberts, Pruner, Alexander, Tracy, Brewer, Powell, Youngs Creek and Gilmore Creek; municipalities to be engaged include Barnesville, Greenwood, Whiteland, New Whiteland, Franklin and Johnson County.
Why it matters: Cantwell said a studied watershed would let the county and municipalities set discharge limits tailored to the measured capacity of each ditch segment. He told the board the last meeting identified a study cost "somewhere around a half a million dollars" to model the watershed and determine capacity and allowable discharges that could be adopted by ordinance.
Board concerns: An unnamed board member asked whether increases in downstream flows had been considered for Downtown Franklin. "Has that been considered? Has that been looked at?" the member asked. Cantwell replied, "No. Not till you do a study."
Next steps: Cantwell said staff will meet with municipalities, solicit ideas, and bring public comment into the process. He proposed two initial meetings—Sept. 16 and Oct. 21—to get the effort started and said he would present a formal resolution and supporting materials at a later meeting.
Limitations: No firm funding source, study contract, or ordinance text was presented at the Sept. 2 meeting; Cantwell described the plan in concept and pledged further work with municipalities and staff. The board did not adopt an ordinance at this meeting.
Ending: Cantwell asked the board to consider the draft and told members he and staff would return with a presentation after municipal coordination and further drafting.
