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Board debates dredging and assessment increases for ditch behind Sissel's Trailer Court
Summary
Drainage board members reported 2.5–3 feet of silt in the ditch behind Sissel's Trailer Court, reviewed a fund balance of about $105,000, estimated dredging at $70,000–$90,000, and discussed brushing, contractor options and possibly raising assessment rates to fund future work.
Board members spent significant time Jan. 13 discussing an open ditch behind Sissel’s Trailer Court (referred to during the meeting as “Little Newbie”), where probes reportedly showed 2.5 to 3 feet of silt in places.
A board member said the ditch’s maintenance fund currently holds about $105,379. Board members estimated that brushing alone could cost tens of thousands and that full dredging could range from roughly $70,000 to $90,000, depending on access and hauling costs. One speaker estimated about 8,000 feet of channel in the larger group and suggested local contractor Jackson’s might offer a competitive bid if registered with the county to do paid work.
Members discussed options to start with brushing and limited access points now while the board seeks bids for dredging later. They also reviewed the assessment roll and collections—one participant said the ditch collects about $22,000 a year—and considered whether to raise the per-acre or per-parcel assessment (the current levy was repeatedly described as low, commonly described by speakers as a dollar-per-unit minimum). Several board members said a modest increase (a quarter or doubling to $2) could materially increase revenues but cautioned that some landowners might object and a public hearing may be required for larger increases.
The board did not commit to immediate dredging; members asked staff to pursue contractor interest, verify downstream legal drain records (to confirm how far responsibility runs), and return with bids and clarifications about assessment procedures before authorizing major work.
