Board discusses whether to require separate stormwater/solar project approval form; minutes may suffice

Speaker 1 told the board developers (citing "Gibson Solar" as an example) have requested a separate approval form or certificate after stormwater projects are completed. "When they get that approved...They're coming back to us and asking for that approval," Speaker 1 said, describing requests for a certificate for project records.

Speaker 1 said he surveyed other counties and that some—either by practice or ordinance—use the drainage board minutes as the record of approval rather than issuing a separate certificate. "It seems to me...after talking to Tippecanoe County surveyor, they also just use their drainage board minutes," Speaker 1 said, and recommended the board rely on the minutes rather than create a redundant form.

Board members questioned the need for extra paperwork. Speaker 2 asked, "Why do we need redundancy? ... I don't really see any need to make more paper to kill more trees," and Speaker 3 agreed that documented minutes should be sufficient. The board did not adopt a new form during the meeting, and no statute or ordinance was cited that would require a specific certificate; the transcript records the discussion as procedural and exploratory rather than a formal policy change.

Details: Staff said samples from other counties and municipal templates had been reviewed, and Lyle (name mentioned in the discussion) had collected sample forms. The board framed the question as whether the minutes and existing approval process already satisfy developers' recordkeeping needs.