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Board approves Microsoft drain application and authorizes chair to negotiate MOU with City of LaPorte
Summary
The board approved a Microsoft drain application for work within a regulated easement and authorized the chair to negotiate a draft memorandum of understanding with the City of LaPorte detailing joint planning, funding responsibilities, and inspection roles for Sherer’s and Travis ditches.
The LaPorte County Drainage Board on April 14 approved a drain‑related application tied to Microsoft construction tributary to the Travis Ditch and authorized the board chair to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of LaPorte covering Sherer’s and Travis ditches.
Board members clarified the application was for work within the 75‑foot regulated easement and that the construction is tributary to the ditch rather than directly in the channel. After questions, a motion to approve the application passed by voice vote.
Following the application approval, Jerry Jackson read a draft MOU skeleton that would have the City of LaPorte’s storm‑water department and the county jointly develop plans for maintenance and improvements. The draft states the city would manage development projects to ensure post‑development flow rates are no greater than pre‑development levels, would contribute funds to projects in the joint plan, and that the county drainage board would bid and administer improvements. The draft also includes language that the drainage board would not assess city properties for Sherer’s and Travis Ditch improvements; the board discussed that delineating maintenance responsibility and funding flows will be essential in the interagency agreement.
"The La Porte County Drainage Board will not assess the city of La Porte properties for Sherer's and Travis Ditch improvements," Jerry Jackson said while reading the draft. Board members voted to give the chair authority to negotiate the terms with the city and return the final MOU for board approval.
Resident Louis Spear used public comment to press the board for more transparency, asking that motions be read aloud and urging the board to require the city to address existing drainage issues before allowing new discharges. Board members responded that they are working on downstream outlets and recent repairs and encouraged Mr. Spear to obtain copies of application materials through public records if desired.
The board did not set numeric funding terms in the MOU at the April 14 meeting and left those details for negotiated terms and later board approval.
