Drainage board tables Lynch Subdivision after residents raise flooding concerns

The County Drainage Board on Aug. 4 voted to table consideration of the Lynch Subdivision after residents described recurring flooding near Reindeer Lake and county staff asked the applicant for more drainage calculations and a wider topographic display.

The subdivision would split existing Lot 13 in the Reindeer Lake area into two parcels; one of the resulting lots contains an existing house and the other would be new, 16-acre Lot 2 with wooded and pond area. Elaine Phillips, a county staff member who presented the plat, said the pond’s perimeter drain would outlet into an existing tile at the lake’s southwest corner and that the applicants had provided topographic information the board could review.

Why it matters: multiple neighbors and county staff said drainage in the watershed is already problematic, with private tile systems and culverts that have become clogged. Several residents said their basements have flooded in heavy rains and asked the board to consider whether adding a new house and hard surface area would worsen runoff.

County staff member Greg (county staff) told the board that the pond “will start flowing through yards” once the outlet reaches the elevation he cited and warned that, because “the pond doesn’t have an emergency overflow, it’s just overland flow at 17 and a half,” anyone who built a basement below that level “they’re gonna be wet.” That assessment prompted repeated questions from residents who said they have experienced water in basements and yards during heavy rains.

Public commenters described localized long‑standing drainage problems. David King said the farm fields north of the subdivision drain toward the road and collect on the west side of County Road 250 West; he said private tile and ditchwork in the area “doesn’t work worth the hoot.” John Rocchio and Michael Dowden said their basements have flooded over the years and asked that the board not make existing problems worse.

Board members and staff distinguished between problems on regulated drains and privately maintained systems. Greg told the board that the open ditch and regulated drains are functioning but that adjoining private tile networks and concrete culverts can create localized backups, and those private issues are not directly corrected by the drainage board.

Board action: Mr. Dodd moved to deny the subdivision request, citing drainage concerns; that motion died for lack of a second. Mr. Orenas moved — and Mr. Byram seconded — to table the Lynch Subdivision and return it to the board with supplemental materials. The board approved the motion to table; the item is scheduled for further review on Aug. 18.

The board asked the applicant to provide a clearer, larger-scale topographic map showing flow directions and a calculation comparing runoff from the undeveloped site to runoff after a representative house footprint (for example, a 2,000-square-foot house). Phillips said the applicant would provide those materials.

Next steps: The board will revisit the Lynch Subdivision on Aug. 18; staff requested that the applicant submit the requested runoff calculations and a wider topographic display before that meeting.