At its Jan. 12 meeting the Hamilton County Drainage Board handled several project and procurement items, including an easement purchase, appraisal authorization, professional services and the handling of a late bid.

Staff asked the board to table the Indiana American Water easement purchase related to the William Krause Drain because additional language needs to be added to the easement agreement; the board voted to table the item. On a separate item, staff explained the need to acquire approximately 0.081 acres at the southern end of the Clarinot's Drain project that lies outside any recorded easement; the board approved seeking appraisals for that acreage.

The board approved a professional services agreement with Clark Dietz for a study to develop erosion-control solutions in the Thomas Lindley Drain through MacGregor Park. Staff also presented the board's annual MS4-related contract with Christopher Burke, for $30,000, to support compliance with the board's state permit; the board approved the contract.

On procurement, the board reviewed bids for the 2026 maintenance contract. A bid submitted by Dorsey was late; staff said Dorsey expected a noon opening but bids had been opened at 9 a.m. The board moved to waive regularity and accept Dorsey's bid for consideration, opened Dorsey's submissions on the record, and referred all bids to the surveyor's office for review and recommendation at the next meeting.

Staff also recommended surety acceptances for the Mary Johnson Drain reconstruction (Willpower Excavation) and Williams Creek Jackson Grant Village, and recommended surety releases for Pulte Homes of Indiana LLC and Booth Zeiss related to Finch Creek/William Leer drain arms; staff recommended those releases be handled at the commissioner's meeting. Several construction updates were provided across multiple projects, including expected completion windows, outstanding fabrication of structures, and coordination on tile outlet inspections.

Next steps recorded at the meeting include staff providing written legal briefs on two cases before the next meeting and the surveyor's office producing bid review recommendations.