Drainage board approves transfer of up to $25,000 for Miller Ditch cleanup

Speaker 1 told the Gibson County Drainage Board that trees killed after herbicide work on Miller Ditch have begun falling into the channel and creating log jams near the Patoka River boat ramp and asked the board to transfer funds for cleanup. "What we'd like to do...we're asking for 25,000 to be transferred from the general drain and groom up fund to the Miller Ditch," Speaker 1 said.

Board members discussed bids and procedure before moving to a motion. Speaker 2 asked whether bids had been solicited and prompted a not-to-exceed phrasing; Speaker 2 then called for a motion "to transfer not to exceed 25" and the motion was seconded. The board approved the transfer by voice vote. Speaker 2 added that if bids come in higher than the not-to-exceed amount, staff should return to the board to revisit the request.

Why it matters: Miller Ditch drains into the Patoka River; log jams and fallen trees can impede flow and pose localized flooding and maintenance concerns, so the board prioritized clearing the channel. The transcript records an initial mention of $15,000 during the request but the speaker subsequently specified $25,000 and the motion and approval used the $25,000 not-to-exceed figure.

Details and next steps: The transfer was approved as a not-to-exceed amount; bidders had not been provided at the time of the meeting, and board members explicitly noted staff must come back for further approval if bids exceed the authorized ceiling. No formal vote tally (number of yes/no/abstain) was recorded in the transcript beyond the voice approval. The board did not cite a statute or ordinance governing the specific transfer during the discussion.