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Residents press Steele County over altered ditch, culvert; commissioners ask county engineer to measure grades
Summary
Residents who say a private drainage alteration lowered a culvert and increased flooding presented to the commissioners; the board asked the county engineer to survey right-of-way elevations and culvert height and return with measurements at the next meeting.
Paul Hanson and John Motter told Steele County commissioners on June 3 that work on a private property and in the county road ditch lowered an existing culvert and changed drainage patterns, causing flooding to land downstream.
Hanson said the drainage and ditch changes were the subject of prior water-board orders but not fully fixed; Motter said he recalled crews installing a culvert years earlier and that the current culvert appears to sit about a foot-and-a-half lower than it once did. Both asked the county to require the county-road ditch be returned to its prior grade and to restore the culvert to its original elevation.
County staff said the water board has jurisdiction over field drains beyond the county right-of-way but that the county controls its road ditch and right-of-way. Commissioners directed county road staff to survey and shoot grades at the site — including elevations on both sides of the ditch and the existing culvert elevation — and to determine the county right-of-way. The board asked staff to return findings at the June 20 meeting so it can consider an order requiring backfill in the county right-of-way and, if necessary, replacement of the culvert to match the original grade.
Commissioners agreed the county would only enforce work within its right-of-way; work beyond that line would remain the water board’s responsibility unless a separate order is required. Commissioners also said if owners do not complete ordered work the county may assess costs to property taxes, per routine county practice.
The residents provided photographs and historical context; commissioners asked staff to stake and document the right-of-way, take elevation shots, and report to the board before issuing any enforcement order.
