County drainage board reviews survey showing homes, parking lots encroaching on Nutter Ditch easement

Martinsville County Drainage Board members reviewed a new survey of the underground Nutter (sometimes referred to in the meeting as “Netter”) ditch on Aug. 4 showing houses, parking lots and other structures inside the board's easement. Board member Bill said, “I gave you all copies of the big sheets. They Banning completed that and sent it to me this week.” The survey includes photos of every inlet, invert elevations and coordinates, board members said. The surveyors documented encroachments along the ditch corridor between Harrison Street and south of Washington Street, including several newer structures and an expanded parking lot near Hudson Plumbing. Board members said some houses predate the easement but several commercial improvements are recent. Board member Terry said the ditch is largely underground until it opens south of Washington Street and emerges at a bridge; he said the county needs to 'get it open' and examine what must be removed to restore flow. "We gotta get that water out of Marcusville," he said. Members said they will review photos and elevations in detail, then return to the next meeting with recommended options. Bill and another board member said they will meet to develop recommendations for how to proceed and how to notify property owners. Board members said they have already sent a letter informing owners that the area is being surveyed and that further notices will follow if a building, fence or parking lot encroaches. "Once we figure out what's going on, we'll get another letter to us saying, you know, your building's in your building's your fencing. We can look at it and say your fence is encroaching. If we need to come by, it's coming down at your expense. Right. And that's what the statute says," Bill said. The board discussed coordinating with the City of Martinsville because permits for newer structures were issued by the city; members said the city should be brought in and homeowners educated that some features are within a drainage easement and subject to county regulation. The board did not take a formal vote on removal or enforcement at the meeting; members described next steps as review, owner notification and then potential repair or removal work.