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Board weighs options for Levi Eaton drain after collapsed tile; repair estimate $9,000
Summary
Board members discussed a collapsed tile near the former poultry plant on the Levi Eaton drain. A contractor estimated about $9,000 to improve the open ditch; the drain currently collects roughly $650 a year and reconstruction rules would place most cost on a single upstream landowner under current assessments.
The board discussed the Levi Eaton drain, where rerouted tile and collapsed sections near a former poultry-processing site have created an open ditch and caused slow drainage for upstream owners.
Speaker 1 described the site and a contractor estimate: "What would it take to improve the open ditch... that's about $9,000. Now we're only collecting $650 a year." Speaker 1 said a full reconstruction would follow the usual assessment rules, under which about 80% of reconstruction costs could fall to the primary upstream landowner, a financial burden the speaker said might be unaffordable for that owner.
Board members explored options: a limited county-funded repair to open and improve the ditch now (with the county taking debt and continuing to collect assessments) or a full reconstruction with an assessed share to the landowner. Speaker 1 suggested precedent exists for the county performing immediate repairs and letting owners continue normal assessment payments over time to amortize cost.
Regulatory caution was raised. Speaker 1 said the lagoons near the site may be regulated by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and pledged to check permitting status before excavation near the lagoon: "I would make sure... I'm pretty sure that lagoon is regulated by IDEM... I'll check into that." The board asked staff to verify permits and potential spill-prevention or closure requirements before authorizing work.
No motion to fund repair or to start a reconstruction was taken; staff will return with permitting guidance and refined cost and assessment options.
