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Supervisors hear drainage concerns over silted tiles and possible costly jetting
Summary
The Winnebago County drainage discussion focused on a silted tile line and a field depression; supervisors considered options including expensive jetting, flushing or waiting for natural washout.
During the supervisors' meeting, county drainage staff briefed the board on a complaint involving a silted tile and a depression in a landowner's field. Staff described two parallel tile lines—one older and one replaced in the 1960s—where the upstream line showed significant silt accumulation and reduced flow.
Staff said landowners had sent video showing the condition and that the county will inspect when the landowner is available. Options discussed included high-cost jetting, flushing with a truck tank, or leaving the line to wash out naturally. Board members noted jetting costs and the limited reach per operation (reports indicated approximately 500 feet per run). One board member said the older tile crosses a road, ties into the district outlet and remains active following prior replacement work.
Why it matters: Tile and ditch capacity affect drainage on farmland and can influence field productivity and downstream flows; decisions to repair or jet drains have both cost and timing implications for planting and farm operations.
Next steps: Staff will visit the site with the landowner when available to inspect the tile lines and advise on possible remedies; no formal action was taken at the meeting.
Sources: Drainage supervisor comments and board discussion recorded in the meeting transcript.
