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Franklin County board weighs costly drainage repairs, seeks inter-county estimate
Summary
Supervisors reviewed a drainage work order citing multiple collapsed tiles and shallow pipe; estimates discussed exceeded $15,000 and possibly $25,000. The board directed staff to seek detailed cost estimates and to consult jointly with Wright County on a larger replacement versus incremental repairs.
Supervisors discussed a deteriorating drainage tile on a joint district and directed staff to obtain clearer cost estimates and coordinate with Wright County before committing to a large replacement.
The discussion centered on work order 267 (DD4Dash118), where supervisors and staff reported two tile collapses and widespread shallow pipe. A staff member said on inspection “it’s really shallow, not in good shape,” and another noted prior reports and partial repairs that left remaining sections vulnerable. Board members and staff agreed one estimate exceeded $15,000 and that a broader replacement might be closer to $25,000, though no final bid was presented at the meeting.
Supervisors debated options including targeted repairs to “button up” the two open holes before winter to prevent erosion, incremental replacement, or a wholesale reconstruction that would extend back toward the headwall to potentially regain depth. A supervisor recommended formally engaging Wright County because the drainage district is joint, and another asked that any inter-county position be preserved in the minutes rather than handled by informal email.
The board asked staff to get firm engineering estimates and to schedule a formal conversation with Wright County trustees. Staff were also directed to request written cost estimates from contractors and to clarify warranty implications if repairs are made in segments. No formal motion to award a large replacement was made during the meeting; the board’s action was to seek further information and to authorize follow-up discussions.
What’s next: County staff will solicit detailed estimates and initiate the joint-district discussion with Wright County; temporary fixes to cover exposed holes were recommended to limit erosion before winter.
