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DeKalb County schedules Nov. 6 maintenance hearings for Frank Yard long lateral and JP Inslee drains
Summary
The DeKalb County Drainage Board set maintenance hearings for two non‑maintenance regulated drains — the Frank Yard long lateral and the JP Inslee drain — for Nov. 6, 2025, and discussed sending combined notices that would allow an immediate follow‑up vacate hearing if testimony shows maintenance is inappropriate.
The DeKalb County Drainage Board on Sept. 18 set maintenance hearings for two regulated drains — the Frank Yard long lateral and the JP Inslee drain — and agreed to include a possible immediate vacate hearing in the same notices.
The board scheduled the Frank Yard long lateral maintenance hearing for 9 a.m. on Nov. 6, with a possible vacate hearing at 9:15 a.m. The JP Inslee maintenance hearing was set for 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 6, followed by a possible vacate hearing at 9:45 a.m.
Surveyor's office staff told the board the Frank Yard long lateral serves about a 47‑acre watershed and consists of roughly 1,500 feet of 10‑inch tile. The office calculated annual maintenance collections of $3,485 and a per‑acre base rate of $51.51. The largest parcel in the Frank Yard watershed was identified as belonging to Brian Weller, about 22 acres, which the surveyor said would translate to roughly $1,100 when maintenance is collected.
On the JP Inslee drain, surveyor staff described a system that includes about 1,400 feet of 8‑inch tile at the top and about 1,494 feet of 10‑inch tile at the bottom, serving about 283 acres. The office estimated annual collections of $5,324.84 and a base rate of $11.12. Staff noted commercial parcels are billed at three times the base rate; the largest commercial parcel was estimated at about 97 acres, a gravel pit that would face a larger assessment under that method.
Board members discussed procedural options for landowners and the public. Surveyor staff proposed advertising both maintenance and possible vacate hearings in a single mailing and explained that if testimony at the maintenance hearing demonstrates the drain cannot be made to perform its intended function, the board could immediately open a vacate hearing. The board agreed that approach would reduce the number of times landowners must appear and save duplicate postage, but members cautioned the notices and cover letters should clearly explain the two hearings and the possible outcomes.
Board members also discussed timing. Several members recommended observing how the Nov. 6 hearings proceed before scheduling the next round of maintenance/vacate notices for other non‑maintenance drains.
The board voted to set the two maintenance hearings and the potential, immediate vacate hearings on Nov. 6 by consensus.
