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Stormwater partnership presents 2026 budgets; proposes lidar drone replacement and a SWCD position change
Summary
Elkhart County stormwater staff presented proposed 2026 budgets, discussed adding $30,000 to replace an out-of-compliance lidar drone (estimated $28,000–$30,000), and the Soil and Water Conservation District proposed changing a conservationist role to a stormwater project manager.
Elkhart County stormwater leadership presented proposed 2026 budgets on June 23, outlined priorities and requested that commissioners review the materials ahead of the council deadline.
Stormwater Coordinator John Heiliger said budgets for multiple partners were submitted and noted the stormwater program added $30,000 to account for a lidar drone platform upgrade; he said the county’s lidar drone is grandfathered but out of compliance with the latest platform and that replacement components and batteries will cost between $28,000 and $30,000. Heiliger described the lidar drone’s use for as-built surveys and topographic data, and said the county has used drones for about five years.
Jim Hess, representing the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), told commissioners the SWCD budget had few changes but proposed reclassifying a position: converting one conservationist position to a stormwater project manager (Todd Clark) to better organize projects and contractor coordination. Hess said this change carries a modest wage increase and that other personnel items were adjusted based on formula-driven costs.
Staff also described planned outreach — a larger presence at the county fair and upcoming RiverFest/EnviroFest events — and reported five county employees completed the Indiana Watershed Leadership Program. Conservationist Jenna Waite announced she will leave at the end of the month to care for her family and thanked commissioners for six years of support.
The budgets were presented as part of routine budget submission protocol prior to council review; county staff said the materials would be forwarded to the county council and did not record a formal vote by commissioners during the meeting.
