Board members spent considerable time on Jan. 5 addressing recurring flooding on Kin Drive. The group said homeowners have granted permission to remove a tree that staff identified as the immediate cause of the backup; the chair asked that the tree be removed and a piping estimate be prepared by the board's next meeting on Feb. 2.

Discussion centered on whether to install a culvert, a catch basin and buried tile or to pursue a reconstruction route that would require engineering and likely a longer formal process. One member noted liability and nearby utilities could complicate burying large drainage pipe, while others argued a culvert and catch basin would be the simpler near-term fix.

Board members also explored assessment options. Staff clarified that the nearby No Name Creek is a regulated drain but the Kin Drive tributary is not; accepting the tributary as a regulated drain would require a public meeting and formal acceptance before any special assessment could be levied. One member suggested that spreading costs across all beneficiaries, including the county roadway reconstruction, would reduce homeowner shares.

The board directed staff to: (1) have the tree removed immediately, (2) measure and obtain quotes for the required length of pipe and catch-basin work, and (3) discuss reconstruction versus a pipe-only approach with the county engineer and affected homeowners. A staff member estimated tree-removal cost at about $1,500 to $2,000.