Howard County Drainage Board approves increased assessments for Stall Shank drain after public hearing

The Howard County Drainage Board voted Feb. 2 to adopt Order HCDB 26‑01, modifying benefit percentages and increasing annual assessments for the Stall Shank regulated drain watershed.

Greg (Howard County surveyor) and staff outlined a five‑year plan that would collect $100,000 a year for five years to pay for prioritized ditch and tile repairs, then reduce the assessment to $60,000 annually for ongoing maintenance. The watershed covers about 2,702 acres across 796 parcels and includes roughly 23,340 feet of open ditch and 49,900 feet of tile, officials said.

The board opened a public hearing before the vote. Paul (county staff) reviewed maps and per‑section estimates, saying the open Stal(l) Shank ditch work in the initial plan is estimated at $211,900 and the George Schenk tile replacement at $1,067,600. "Everything from Carter Street all the way back to the bypass hasn't been touched in decades," Paul said, describing sections that would receive priority in the first five years.

Landowners who farm in the watershed urged the board to approve the work. "You can see it's pretty clear where that drain runs," farmer Mike Stites said, describing yield maps that show poorer production where drains fail. Daryl Maple, who said his family farms about 55 acres in the watershed, said the proposed assessment method "is the most fair and economical tax you will ever see," adding that lost yields cost area families money each year.

Several residents raised environmental and health questions about the board's spray program. Paul said contractors use Garlon 3A, not Garlon 4 Ultra, and that the product's label allows use in wetlands and aquatic sites when applied according to label directions. "We do not use it," Paul said of Garlon 4 Ultra. Greg said the county contacts the state chemist's office and requires certified applicators; "the label's the law," he said.

Greg explained how the board calculates assessments: since 2006, the county has used GIS to "cookie‑cut" parcels by soil type and land use and apply area‑weighted factors, so parcels can have different assessment amounts depending on soil drainage and impervious area. He said the five‑year plan includes a $50 minimum per parcel and that the board would stop collecting the extra assessment if the fund reached four times the annual assessment.

A motion to adopt HCDB 26‑01 was made by mister Dodd and seconded by mister Ollery. The order was read into the minutes; it cites IC 36‑9‑27‑42(d) and notes "any owner may request judicial review of this order within 20 days after receipt". The board voted by voice; the presiding officer announced the motion passed.

The board said the five‑year, $100,000 collection is a compromise intended to balance the needs of large landowners seeking immediate repairs with the financial limits of lower‑income residents in the watershed. The order will be mailed to affected owners as required by state statute.

The board returned to regular session and then adjourned.