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Drainage board approves SJIP Phase 2 drainage plan; Pigeon Creek watershed cooperation advances
Summary
Vanderburgh County’s Drainage Board approved final drainage plans with conditions for a St. Joseph Industrial Park expansion, authorized routine ditch claims and discussed regional cooperation and logjam removal work on Pigeon Creek.
VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. — The Vanderburgh County Drainage Board on June 10 approved a final drainage plan for the S J I P Phase 2 building expansion at 2301 St. Joseph Industrial Park Drive, authorized routine ditch‑maintenance claims and discussed the Pigeon Creek Watershed planning and a logjam issue.
The board approved the final drainage plan with conditions and allowed legal counsel to make any necessary language edits to easement documents. Staff said the project involves vacating some portions of existing public utility and drainage easements and dedicating new drainage easements; because of existing improvements close to the legal drain, county counsel and staff proposed added easement language that assigns responsibility for encroachments and their maintenance to the property owner or developer rather than Vanderburgh County.
“Because of a significant number of encroachments and close proximity with improvements within the 75 feet of the legal drain, any work that needs to be done … any of their encroachments, it’s going to be their responsibility,” the drainage board’s staff said while reading the proposed easement language into the record.
The board also authorized retroactive payment of 14 ditch claims totaling $7,667.07 for contracted spraying, mowing and similar work previously approved by the board.
On regional issues, board members and staff reported that boat tours of Pigeon Creek drew representatives from neighboring drainage boards and engineering firms and that Warwick County has begun steps to consider joining the Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission. The board discussed ongoing logjam concerns in a stretch of the creek shared with a neighboring county and said professional review and a work plan are forthcoming; members cautioned that not all jams require removal and the Natural Resources Commission process may be lengthy.
What comes next: Staff said they will finalize easement language in coordination with county legal counsel and proceed with the recorded drainage plan conditions. The Pigeon Creek Watershed Development Commission will meet next on June 23; the board expects a future presentation about logjam removal options and a work plan from qualified professionals.
Ending: Board members said the Pigeon Creek tours were productive for regional collaboration and that they will continue coordination with neighboring counties on watershed projects.
