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Farmers urge Board to keep Eddie Smith drainage assessment structure; no change voted
Summary
At a June 7 public hearing multiple property owners told the Board they oppose converting Eddie Smith drainage from a special assessment to a property-value-based service district; staff explained statutory differences and the Board took no vote that night.
Several property owners urged the Washington County Board of Commissioners on June 7 to retain the existing Special Assessment District for the Eddie Smith drainage project rather than convert it to a Service District based on property value.
At the public hearing, Dwight Respess of 3D Farms told the Board, “how important drainage is but can’t support the proposed service district because it’s based on property value. Consider 153-A Article 9.” Other speakers—Guy Davenport, Selvie James, Steve Barnes and Mike Harris—said the project has operated in its current form for years and that many farmers contribute labor and funding; several speakers asked to “keep it like it is.”
County Manager Curtis Potter and remote participant David Gadd explained to the Board that Special Assessment Districts and Service Districts are governed by different laws and that converting the district could be more cumbersome for county administration. Potter told the Board it did not have to vote on a change that night and that if issues arose, they could bring the matter back for further consideration.
Outcome: The Board closed the public hearing without taking action to change the district structures; staff will work with landowners and return the item for future consideration if needed.
