County commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the county engineer’s recommendations on the Swan Creek ditch petition, approving soil‑type reclassifications for two parcels and rejecting a third owner’s request to avoid assessments.

The adopted resolution implements changes recommended by the County Engineer for properties within the Swan Creek Watershed. Commissioner Lopez moved to approve the resolution; the clerk recorded roll‑call votes of yes from Commissioner Cabecki, Commissioner Gherkin and Commissioner Lopez, and the hearing on the petition was closed.

The county engineer recommended rejecting an exemption request from an owner on Bucherer Road in Waterville Township who argued his property does not drain to the ditch. The engineer said the property slopes toward the Wabash Cannonball Trail and a rear ditch and that side‑lot swales convey runoff into the watershed, so the owner is a benefiting landowner and should remain assessed.

The commission approved two exceptions that will reduce assessments after recalculation. For parcel 6514904 in the Village of Holland (facing the Norfolk Southern Railway), the engineer recommended changing the soil classification from B to A; the engineer told commissioners that recalculating the maintenance assessment would be required and that “it would probably go down about 10%” but that staff would perform the exact calculation. The commission directed staff to notify the parcel owner of the change; the engineer said, “I will send him a letter.”

For Parcel Number 5213488 (WD and NJ Roper), the engineer recommended changing the soil classification from D to B after reviewing site photos and soils. William Roper, who said he is at 12760 Neapolis Waterville Road, described sandy loam and yellow blow sand on his property and said a dug pond lacked clay; the County Engineer concluded soil type B was appropriate and the commission accepted the recommendation. Commissioners stated assessments for the affected parcels will be reduced after the office recalculates the maintenance shares.

The county engineer told commissioners that the annual filing window for future exemption requests is January 1 through March 31 and that information is available on the county engineer’s website or by contacting the county engineer’s office.

No ordinance or state statute was cited during the hearing; the commission approved a resolution to adopt the engineer’s recommendations and directed staff to update the roles and assessment records accordingly.

The hearing was closed after the vote and the commission adjourned.