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Marshall County approves Gollinsaker watershed assessment at $6.50 per acre, $9 minimum
Summary
After a public hearing, the board approved a rate of $6.50 per acre with a $9 minimum for the Gollinsaker watershed assessment and agreed to revisit countywide treatment of non-agricultural runoff in a future meeting.
At a public hearing on Oct. 20, 2025, the Marshall County Drainage Board approved a new assessment rate for the Gollinsaker watershed: $6.50 per acre with a $9 minimum, effective when the assessment schedule requires collection to resume. The board recorded the finding that the "benefits outweigh the costs" for the assessment in its minutes.
County staff reported the watershed covers roughly 5,400 acres, about 89% of which lies in Marshall County and about 11% in Kosciusko County; Kosciusko had waived a representative on the board for this matter. Staff said the watershed contains approximately 9.2 miles (48,510 feet) of open ditch and about 7.2 miles (37,740 feet) of tile drain, including 8,600 feet of tile drain in Kosciusko County. The board was also told the watershed’s annual collections were calculated at roughly $12,001.71 under current rates, while the county’s projected annual maintenance need was about $30,400.
Several members of the public said the current assessment structure places the burden on agricultural parcels, while some business and development-related impervious surfaces contribute disproportionate runoff. Wayne Yoder of Nappanee and other speakers asked whether non-agricultural property owners (businesses, parking areas, new developments) could be assessed differently or required to mitigate runoff. County staff and Craig Hawley of Farmers Drainage said county ordinances already require detention basins for developments that create more than 4,000 square feet of impervious surface; board members agreed to pursue broader review of whether the county should revise assessment or watershed rules to address larger non-agricultural contributors.
After discussion, a board member moved to adopt the advertised (mailed) $9 minimum and the $6.50 per-acre rate, with the statement that benefits outweigh costs; the motion passed by voice vote.
Ending: The board approved the Gollinsaker assessment as advertised and directed staff to place a future agenda item to research possible countywide adjustments for assessing or mitigating runoff from non-agricultural development.
