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Engineer review of Grady (DD 62) drone footage flags multiple bank‑erosion and tile‑outlet needs; trustees plan a public hearing
Summary
CGA engineer reviewed drone footage of Drainage District 62, identified multiple tile outlets, bank erosion, sloughing and broken outlets, and estimated construction costs of roughly $80,000–$100,000; trustees discussed whether to require a formal engineer's report and penciled a public hearing for Sept. 8.
An engineer from Claps, Garber & Associates (CGA) reviewed drone photos and stills for Drainage District 62 (Grady) and briefed Wright County drainage trustees on multiple problem spots, including broken tile outlets, bank erosion and sloughing that trustees and the consultant flagged as priorities for repair.
Lee Gallantyne of CGA told trustees the drone footage showed several tile outlets that appear broken or are undermining banks, localized bank failures and areas that look like sloughs rather than simple vegetation changes. Gallantyne recommended targeting tile‑outlet repairs and active bank erosion spots as the highest priorities and said riprap, vegetation restoration or localized fill might be appropriate depending on soil conditions. He also recommended replacing or extending certain culverts to prevent roadway flooding.
Gallantyne gave a ballpark construction-only estimate of about $80,000–$100,000 for the collection of repairs shown in the footage, and explained that under recent code revisions an engineer's report is not always required below a certain construction threshold; however trustees may choose to request a report to support a public hearing and assessment process. The consultant said if the county asks for a full engineer's report he would include the drone material as an appendix but that for the likely scale of repairs the report would not add much technical value beyond the provided footage and site notes.
Trustees discussed landowner cost sensitivity and whether to proceed directly to a public hearing or appoint an engineer to prepare a formal report. The trustees agreed to place a public hearing on the agenda and penciled it for Sept. 8, 2025, noting the meeting must meet a 40‑day notice requirement in the drainage code (transcript reference 468.14). The county clerk recorded the district length at roughly 3.12 miles and total district acreage at about 2,351.8 acres; trustees said the project would be handled as a unified repair effort rather than splitting jobs to avoid reporting or hearing thresholds.
Trustees did not adopt a final project scope or contract at the meeting; they directed staff to include an item on the next agenda to set the required hearing date formally and asked the consultant and staff to prepare estimated engineering fees and a clearer cost breakdown for landowners.
