Winnebago County sets May 27 hearings for DD 78 annexation and reclassification

Winnebago County supervisors set two public hearings for May 27 to consider annexing parcels into Drainage District DD 78 and to approve a related reclassification report.

County staff recommended a May 27 hearing at 10:00 a.m. to consider annexation of parcels into DD 78 and recommended a 10:05 a.m. hearing the same day for the reclassification report. A motion to set the annexation hearing was made and seconded and approved by voice vote; a separate motion to set the reclassification hearing was also moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

The annexation and reclassification processes are intended to bring specific parcels into the district's ditch and tile benefit schedules. Staff described parcel-level adjustments that factor into the benefit calculations, including distance to facilities, use, runoff and an adjustment factor. Two property examples discussed in the staff report were: - A north parcel owned by Carl Wagner that staff identified as a permanent wetland and thus given a substantial reduction because it "will never be floodable." - A south-side parcel owned by Mark Johnson that is enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) tree cover; staff said the ground is unlikely to be farmed again and that parcel also received a significant reduction.

Supervisors did not record roll-call votes; motions were approved by voice vote. Staff will publish formal notice of the public hearings and provide the hearing records and reports for public inspection before the May 27 sessions.

The hearings will allow affected landowners and other stakeholders to comment before the board considers final administrative action on annexation and reclassification for DD 78.