Board advances drainage work: Oliver Lake reclassification hearing set; Gray Lateral C contractor paid; Barber Creek transferred to consultant

Monona County’s Drainage Trustees addressed multiple drainage projects April 7, approving a reclassification report for Oliver Lake Lateral 1 and scheduling a public hearing on the reclassification for 10 a.m. May 19, 2026 in the Monona County Courthouse basement.

Several landowners attending the trustees’ session — Tim Hodgson, Wayne Rock and James Johnston — raised concerns that recent dredging left spoil piles and rock on fields and that spoils recently spread on fields were “complete ‘gumbo’ that will not yield any crops,” creating potential crop damage and the possibility of additional costs to landowners. Engineer Caleb Rasmussen (MOR Engineering), who is overseeing several projects, recommended immediate seeding of levee tops, bank support to reduce weight on levees, leaving most rock piles in place except spoils on CRP ground, and unplugging tubes that were blocked during construction. Rasmussen and ISG engineers said they will meet with the contractor and return with a report to the trustees.

The trustees approved payment to contractor James Johnston for Gray Lateral C after ISG inspected the site and found the work satisfactory. ISG also turned the Barber Creek and Maple River Lateral 1 projects over to Rasmussen; meeting materials identify both projects as FEMA-related.

A joint meeting with Harrison County on McNeill Phase II is scheduled for April 14 to appoint commissioners and address next steps on that project. The drainage trustees approved March drainage claims at the April 7 session.

The board’s minutes record unanimous votes among members present (Ayes: Bo Fox and Tom Brouillette) for the motions taken; they also note that engineers will schedule a follow-up meeting with the contractor regarding spoil management and seeding recommendations.