Warrick County Drainage Board approves routine items, rejects one bid and hears multiple IDEM complaints

The Warrick County Drainage Board met Aug. 11 and approved routine meeting business, voted to reject bids on a local stormwater project pending a redesign, and heard repeated Indiana Department of Environmental Management complaints about construction runoff in two subdivisions.

Board President called the meeting to order and the board approved minutes from the Jan. 28, 2025 meeting and claims totaling $106.62; both motions carried unanimously, recorded as 3–0.

The board approved plans for Miner's Lake, a proposed 13‑lot residential subdivision along Boonhill Harmony Road, after staff review found no drainage improvements were necessary. Jim Morley Jr., project engineer, told the board the lots average about 4.5 acres and drain to an existing onsite lake; board members agreed the subdivision would not affect off‑site drainage and approved the item 3–0.

On stormwater capital work, county staff reported two bids for a proposed stormwater improvement on Glenbrook Drive in Fieldstone Subsection B exceeded the engineer's estimate by more than 10 percent. Staff said they will redesign the system to be shallower to address contractor concerns and put the project out for rebid. The board voted to reject the bids and proceed with the redesign; that motion carried 3–0.

Board staff also sought confirmation to proceed with a supplemental agreement with Baker Tilly to complete a stormwater rate study. The board approved the supplemental agreement with a not‑to‑exceed figure of $8,500 and directed staff to advertise the required public hearing; the motion carried unanimously.

The board spent an extended portion of its meeting on complaints referred by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) about runoff and concrete washout at Pebble Creek Subdivision and a separate, later complaint at a site in Ironwood. Staff said the current matter at Pebble Creek is the third IDEM complaint this year and that the owner of record is Dr. Hussain. Mahmoud Ahmed, representing Dr. Hussain, told the board the developer has instructed builders to install concrete washout stations and that crews had built washout pits after complaints were raised.

Carolyn Bradley, the contracted erosion control inspector for Warrick County, reported she inspected sites in Pebble Creek and saw that some builders were using each other's washout pits and that in at least one instance washout from exposing an aggregate driveway ran down the curb and into a storm inlet. Bradley said she had given the owner until Aug. 14 to get the matter under control and that she would follow up with enforcement letters to responsible builders, including Hirsch Custom Homes (Lot 5) and Chapman Development LLC (Lot 9), whose permit records were identified during the inspection. Bradley said she had not yet confirmed compliance in the field at the time of the meeting but that some corrective work had already taken place.

Board members and observers debated whether the runoff incidents reflected contractor, supplier or developer responsibility. One board member noted the practical difficulty of keeping silt fence and washout installations intact on busy construction sites. Staff said they will continue on‑site follow up and send violation letters to builders identified in the inspector's report.

A separate, later IDEM complaint at a site in Ironwood was inspected; staff reported silt fence and a wattle had been installed but that some pieces had been dislodged and should be repositioned. The inspector said she would notify the subcontractor (Jayco) to reposition controls.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (Jan. 28, 2025): motion carried 3–0; mover/second not specified in record. - Approval of claims totaling $106.62: motion carried 3–0; mover/second not specified in record. - Miner's Lake subdivision (13 lots): board approved no drainage improvements required; motion carried 3–0. - Glenbrook Drive, Fieldstone Subsection B: board rejected all bids and authorized staff to redesign and rebid the stormwater project; motion carried 3–0. - Baker Tilly supplemental agreement (stormwater rate study) not to exceed $8,500: board approved and authorized advertisement of public hearing; motion carried unanimously.

The board closed with routine items and noted staff would continue to document IDEM referrals and follow up before the Aug. 14 compliance deadline for the Pebble Creek matter.