Board authorizes highway department to clean legal drains at $1 per foot; stormwater rate increase heads to county council

The Warrick County Drainage Board voted Nov. 24 to authorize the highway department to perform legal drain-cleaning work at a nominal rate discussed in the meeting (described repeatedly as one dollar per foot), and staff said the plan will proceed under a use agreement between the county surveyor’s office and the highway department.

Unidentified Speaker (S4) framed the proposal as a way to improve efficiency compared with contracting out, citing prior work in 2017 on Howard Williams Ditch and saying the highway department can schedule work during slower periods. He described a proposed use agreement that would formalize roles between the surveyor’s office and highway crews and said the county surveyor’s office would establish a priority list of drains to be addressed and bring that list before the board for oversight.

Unidentified Chair (S1) and staff noted the department is currently understaffed and constrained by a small annual budget for drainage projects (reported in the meeting as roughly $50,000–$70,000), which is why the county is exploring shared services. The board voted to authorize the use of the highway department; the motion was seconded and recorded as carrying unanimously by the voting members present.

Board members and public commenters stressed prioritization and clear communication. James Fritz, owner of Fritz Storage, described repeated flooding that affected his business and urged expedited action on Howard Williams Ditch. Ed Goldberger, speaking for Halston Manor, asked how homeowners can make sure their ditches are on the county’s list; staff said the upcoming caucus to select a new surveyor and a planned presentation to the county council will inform next steps.

Separately, Unidentified Speaker (S4) told the board the county will present a proposed stormwater rate increase to the county council on Dec. 2 to finance a five-year project list from the Baker Tilly rate study; S4 said the proposal represents an $8.50-per-month increase above the current $4.50 monthly charge. Staff indicated department staff (named in the meeting) will attend the council meeting to answer questions.

What’s next: staff will prepare the use agreement, the surveyor’s office will create a prioritized list of drains for board review, and the stormwater rate proposal will be considered by the county council on Dec. 2.