Delaware County commissioners hold viewing for Homestead Lane North drainage petition; first hearing set for Dec. 15

Delaware County Board of Commissioners convened an informational viewing Oct. 13, 2025, to show an aerial video of the proposed Homestead Lane North watershed drainage improvement petition and to let commissioners become familiar with the area ahead of a formal hearing.

Commissioner Barbara Lewis said the viewing was for familiarization only and that no testimony or decisions would be taken at the session. "No testimony or decisions are made here at this viewing," Lewis said, and she directed that the first hearing on the petition be held Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, at 10 a.m.

Lewis said the formal hearing will include a report from the engineer's office and provide the opportunity for landowner testimony for or against the petition. After outlining the hearing process she turned the presentation over to Brett Bacon with Soil and Water, who described the current status of the project.

Bacon said the project scope remains under development and that staff expects to refine the proposed project area and a center line before the Dec. 15 hearing. "This is somewhat of a unique, 100% clear at this point just what the scope of a project's gonna be," Bacon said, adding that staff might re-fly video after leaf drop to clarify limits.

Bacon described the video flight path as generally following the center line of Homestead Lane from Property 17 south to north toward Property 14. He said refinements would be made once the window for filing amendments closes and staff is "comfortable" with a center line on paper.

No motions or votes were taken at the viewing. The session functioned as an informational step in the improvement-petition process; the board will hear formal reports and landowner testimony at the Dec. 15 hearing.