Wright County drainage authority sets tiered assessment schedule and schedules public hearing for Ditch 19 repair report

Wright County’s drainage authority approved tiered payment terms and an interest rate for ditch assessments that will appear on the 2026 tax statements, and the board set a public hearing for the repair report on County Ditch 19.

With the drainage authority “hat on,” board members discussed recommended tiers: one year for assessments of $750 or less; up to seven years for assessments between $750 and $10,000; and up to 15 years for assessments above $10,000. Staff recommended a standard interest rate of 5 percent. After discussion, the board approved the tiers and interest rate by unanimous vote.

Separately, county staff presented a repair report for County Ditch 19 prepared by Moore Engineering and asked the board to set a public hearing to receive comment. Staff provided a series of possible dates and told the board that publication requirements include three consecutive weeks in the newspaper. The board chose Monday, Aug. 11, at 1 p.m. in the county board room and directed staff to verify the time with the engineer and publish the notice.

Commissioners discussed scheduling to increase public participation, suggesting a midafternoon or early-afternoon hearing rather than a 9 a.m. time to allow landowners to attend. The board instructed staff to confirm availability with the engineer and to republish or return to a future meeting if the time could not be verified for publishing deadlines.

No vote on repairs or assessments themselves was taken at the hearing-setting step; the board approved only the payment tiers, interest rate and the public hearing date.