Warrick County approves $353,074 purchase of ditching equipment as surveyor outlines multi‑year drainage plan

Warrick County commissioners approved $353,074 on a 7–0 vote to buy a tractor-mounted “hurricane” trencher and related equipment using the county’s rainy day fund.

County Surveyor Dennis Wilsbacher told the board the county’s drainage network is heavily silted and functioning at ‘‘about 40% capacity’’ in many places and said the new machine would let crews reestablish flow lines more quickly and at lower cost than conventional “dip‑and‑dump” contracts. Wilsbacher said the tractor he proposes has front and rear PTO and GPS grade control so crews could set culvert flow elevations and let the machine maintain grade while discharging spoil directly onto adjacent fields.

Wilsbacher said the machine will be able to mulch small trees at the bank with an attached chipper and then dig a wider, flatter channel that sustains flow rather than producing a narrow trench that erodes. He said the unit can be used in wet or frozen conditions and estimated an average cost of about $2,100 per mile to restore laterals—lower than conventional methods he cited. He proposed starting work this fall in the county’s most clogged areas, including Howard Ditch and laterals feeding Cypress and Pigeon creeks.

Sherry Severs, Warrick County purchasing administrator, described vendor discounts and a five‑year extended “Gold Star” service package included in the quoted price. Severs said the county received a 26% government discount from Ag Revolution and additional dealer discounts from Hurricane Ditcher; she told commissioners the quoted purchase price was within the figure advertised for the meeting but that a larger warranty package would require re‑advertising.

James Fritz, owner of Fritz Storage and Package Solutions, told the board his business took water in mid‑June after roughly 5–6 inches of rain in an hour. He said 313 of 766 storage units at his facility had water intrusion on the June storm and that six nearby houses also flooded. Fritz urged the commissioners to make ongoing, increased funding available to ditch maintenance, arguing continued development along the Epworth corridor will worsen runoff if drainage is not restored.

A motion to approve the equipment purchase was made and seconded during the meeting. The board approved $353,074 from the rainy day fund to buy the tractor and trencher package; the motion carried 7–0.

County staff and Wilsbacher said the machine will not replace all excavation tools but will be suitable for many laterals and could reduce future contract costs; they also noted legal limits—trees above certain sizes cannot be removed without compliance with Indiana Department of Natural Resources rules. Commissioners asked about operating fuel and ongoing maintenance; Wilsbacher said the vendor’s service package includes on‑site oil changes and a multi‑year warranty.

The plan Wilsbacher presented lays out phased work through 2030, starting near the mouth of Cypress Creek and moving upstream; he told commissioners the county must begin work to reduce repeated flooding at homes and businesses in the affected townships.

Questions, next steps and a schedule for specific project starts were left to staff for follow‑up. Commissioners asked staff to provide any additional contract documentation and to advertise or re‑advertise warranty options if the board chose to expand the purchase beyond the advertised amount.