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Winnebago County officials weigh $30,000 river cleanup as drainage districts, property owners spar over cost
Summary
County supervisors discussed tree-blocked channels on the Winnebago River and a proposed $30,000 cleanup that would likely be charged to affected drainage districts; officials said property-owner cooperation will be necessary for tree removal and downstream benefits.
Winnebago County officials discussed multiple drainage problems tied to the Winnebago River on Monday, including large trees and sediment blocking flow near several outlets and a proposed cleanup estimated at about $30,000.
“Right where D.D.1 dumps … it definitely affects that,” a supervisor said when describing trees and debris obstructing an outlet. The same speaker said county staff had not yet determined how to bill cleanup costs to affected landowners or drainage districts.
Why it matters: Officials said the blockage is reducing capacity and affecting upstream properties. One supervisor noted that, if the $30,000 job were spread across the district, individual assessments could be modest, but they also said assigning costs fairly and securing property-owner permission to remove private trees will complicate the project.
County staff described options: 1) handle it as a drainage-district repair and bill the district; 2) pursue a volunteer or coordinated removal; or 3) negotiate with landowners for permission to remove private trees. “We just didn’t figure out a way to bill anybody,” a supervisor said.
Tile and road issues were discussed elsewhere in the meeting. Staff reported plans to install an access (manhole/inspection hole) in a road to provide maintenance access so crews can jet the tile from either direction, and they said jetting will be used as a recurring maintenance technique.
What was not decided: No funding or specific assessment was approved. Supervisors said they would seek estimates and explore drainage-district billing options but acknowledged property-owner consent and legal limits could affect the timeline.
Ending: Officials said they will collect bids and consider whether drainage districts can be assessed for the work, while also pursuing lower-cost maintenance options such as periodic jetting and installing inspection access points.
