Humboldt supervisors decline to fund private tile crossing; order certified notice for landowner

Humboldt County supervisors voted to send a certified notice to a landowner who requested the county pay to install a private tile crossing under P‑19. The board directed staff to include citations to the drainage statutes and to have the sheriff serve the letter if the landowner does not file the required paperwork.

The matter arose after a visit with Bruce Hefty, who asked the county to install a 15‑inch private tile crossing. County staff said Iowa drainage code requires the landowner to file an application and submit a $1 filing fee before the county may authorize use of taxpayer funds for a private individual’s crossing. The board’s legal counsel and staff advised they would refuse to approve payment unless Hefty completed the statutory filing and the district held a required hearing.

During discussion supervisors confirmed the process described by county legal counsel and directed staff to bundle copies of the relevant drainage statutes with the certified letter. Staff said they would have the sheriff serve the notice if the landowner refused to file the paperwork.

The motion to send the certified letter and have it served if necessary received a first and second; the board indicated the motion carried with no recorded opposition.

The board also discussed the county's limited authority to use drainage district funds for private outlets and noted options available if private outlets are causing ditch erosion. County counsel advised the district may perform emergency repairs and later assess the landowner for costs, provided the notice procedures set out in the drainage statutes are followed. Supervisors said the practical difficulty is identifying all property owners who benefit from a private outlet when parcels have changed hands or multiple owners exist.

The board recorded that the certified‑letter motion and its reasoning be entered in the minutes for the record.