Louie Spear accuses city and large developments of worsening drainage; LaPorte County board orders inspections

Louie Spear, a resident who gave his address as 6434 South 3rd Line Road in LaPorte, told the LaPorte County Drainage Board on March 10 that he has not received requested plans or assessment records from the city and commercial property owners and accused them of adding water to a county drain that has damaged his property. "I sent in a letter asking for all the planned specifications for all the entities...and obviously, they turned nothing over," Spear said.

The board's presiding member responded that the board has already identified the problem and is taking steps to address it: "We as a board have already determined this is an issue, and we are working on the issue," the chair said, noting that staff member Elmer has inspected two sinkholes on the claimant's tile and that the board will seek bids to repair them. The chair also said board staff is attempting to contact the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to examine wetlands and evaluate the tile outlet and the section that passes beneath the railroad.

At the meeting an attendee read and cited case law on drainage liability, arguing that property owners or developers who create artificial impoundments or divert water may be liable to downstream neighbors. The participant asserted that many large properties, including commercial sites, had not been assessed for maintenance since 1916 and that previous surveys and drainage work were inadequate. "An owner who creates an artificial empanelment of water on his land that will be liable to his neighbor if he permits it...and the neighbor is hereby injured," the speaker read.

Board officials described the current, non‑litigation steps being pursued rather than a formal vote. Those steps include the on‑site inspection already completed by staff, obtaining contractor bids to repair two identified sinkholes on the affected tile, and outreach to the state DNR to determine whether work is feasible in wetlands and how the tile connects from the farm outlet to the tile under the railroad. The chair emphasized the board's intent to investigate rather than to dismiss the complaint: "We're not telling you we're not doing anything. We're working on the issue."

Speakers at the meeting also outlined prospective 2026 projects for broader watershed management, including removal of the Indiana–Illinois State Line Bridge (described as a location where debris accumulates) and reconfiguring water-control structures in an upstream area to encourage flow parallel to the river channel rather than perpendicular to it. The board member said a plan had received approval the prior day and that continued maintenance and repairs are planned for the watershed.

The meeting record shows several quantifiable points raised by participants: staff reported two sinkholes needing bids; a participant referenced "536 assessed for maintenance" in historical documents and materials dating to 1916; and the board is pursuing state agency coordination for wetland access and evaluation. No formal motion or vote to approve permanent reconstruction or legal action was recorded at the meeting.

Next steps: the board will collect contractor bids for repairs to the two sinkholes, continue outreach to the Indiana DNR about wetland access and the downstream outlet, and follow up at a future meeting. Any legal remedies referenced by participants were presented as possible future actions and were not acted on during the session.