Board reviews Cole Branch estimates; commissioners asked to decide funding by June

The Vermillion County Drainage Board reviewed engineer cost estimates for cleaning and stabilizing a problematic ditch and retaining wall in the Cole Branch/Rietersburg area and asked county commissioners to indicate whether they will fund work by the board’s June meeting.

Consultants provided multiple options: a cleaning-only estimate to remove sediment and clear the ditch was about $35,000; removing the existing retaining wall and replacing it with box culverts carried a construction estimate of about $160,000 plus engineering fees estimated at $82,000; a lower-profile repair using a gabion (wire-basket) retaining wall had a combined construction and engineering estimate of about $105,000 (roughly $40,000 construction and $65,000 engineering). An alternate full surveying and watershed design package to accommodate future growth was quoted at about $114,000.

Board members emphasized that even if the county chose to pursue repairs quickly, the statutory drain process — assessing the drain and then collecting assessments — typically pushes large-scale reconstruction out roughly two years. The board’s procedural step was to present the estimates to the county commissioners and ask for a funding position: one board member asked commissioners to let the board know before the June 5 meeting whether they could commit funding.

Several board members argued that removing sediment and restoring flow should take priority over an expensive new retaining wall. They noted downstream property impacts — including a homeowner whose yard and garage have flooded — and discussed potential approaches including dredging, subsurface drainage work and contractor offers from local crews to perform parts of the work.

The board did not authorize construction at the meeting; it placed responsibility on the commissioners to indicate budget support and on staff to return with a clearer scope if commissioners elect to proceed.