Humboldt County supervisors authorize on‑site inspection for Norway Township drainage main and limit fixes below $50,000
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Summary
Supervisors authorized contractor Bill Manske to excavate and assess the century‑old D D 370 main in Norway Township, directing repairs that keep costs under $50,000 if possible while discussing whether to petition for a new larger main; pay estimates for other projects were also approved.
Humboldt County supervisors on (date not specified in transcript) directed an on‑site inspection of Drainage District D D 370 in Norway Township and authorized a limited repair approach if the work can remain under $50,000.
The board entered drainage business after a landowner petition from Jason Opine and lengthy technical testimony about a failing 24‑inch clay main and an adjacent relief tile that was installed previously. A contractor (identified in the transcript as the primary presenter) told the board the existing clay tile showed multiple washouts and cracking and estimated that replacing the worst section — about 800 feet by the presenter’s revision — would cost roughly $31,000. The presenter also noted a full replacement from the junction box to the outlet with larger pipe could run into six figures (an estimate cited during discussion was about $116,000).
“Once you start digging in, you don’t know whether it’s going to be from there all the way to the outlet with the same size pipe,” the presenter said, describing uncertainty about how far deterioration extends. The board discussed two main options: repair and maintain the existing tile where it is failing, or petition the district for a new main with larger diameter pipe that would require hearings and engineering.
Supervisor (unnamed) moved to authorize Bill Manske to dig, assess tile condition and report back, with the stipulation that work and repairs remain under the $50,000 threshold that would trigger a formal improvement hearing. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The presenter told the board he would perform on‑site probing the same day and provide a follow‑up estimate: “I can dig down to the tile … and report back to me,” the presenter said when asked to proceed.
Board members pressed for more technical input. One supervisor requested a drainage coefficient and engineering input before committing to larger‑scale work; another emphasized the need to consider the full watershed and the assessment acres used to calculate district charges. Members noted the relief tile, installed decades after the original main, has prevented widespread flooding since its installation and that some landowners likely will oppose an expensive petition for a new main.
The board also discussed implementation details raised by the presenter, including trenching parallel to the old main and using rock at connection points to protect joints. The presenter said he would keep unit prices steady and provide a revised footage‑based estimate after additional excavation.
The board’s action directs immediate field investigation and limited repair planning; any larger improvement that would exceed the statutory threshold and require a public improvement hearing was left for later consideration.
Next steps: Bill Manske will inspect and report back to the board with more precise footage and a cost estimate. The record does not show a final decision to replace the main; only the limited investigative/repair authorization was approved.