Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Drain Assessment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Drainage board approves higher assessment for Drain 664-033BL after resident concerns about blocked tile
Summary
The Whitley County Drainage Board voted to raise the assessment on Drain 664-033BL (Stangland No. 33 BL) to $20 per acre with a $200 minimum, citing blocked tile outlets and insufficient fund balance; a resident warned recent digging on nearby properties may have worsened flooding.
The Whitley County Drainage Board on a voice vote approved increasing the annual assessment for Drain 664-033BL (Stangland No. 33 BL) to $20 per acre with a $200 minimum to fund needed repairs. Chair called the public hearing and summarized that the watershed contains 742 acres, 44 assessments and a current drain fund balance of $4,704.23.
Max (engineer) told the board that multiple tile outlets appear blocked and that standing water indicates clogs or root intrusion. “At $255, we can’t do much,” he said, adding that staff will run a tile locator, take elevation shots and investigate to identify clogs before excavation or replacement work proceeds.
Resident Dennis, who spoke during public comment and gave his address to the record, said he had not submitted written objections but had observed heavy equipment activity near the areas that flood. “Since they’ve been digging, it got worse,” Dennis said, and urged the board to make sure property damage to field tiles is identified so neighboring residents do not bear repair costs.
A committee member moved to adopt the proposed assessment of $20 per acre with a $200 minimum; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The board instructed staff to begin exploratory work and to return with findings and cost estimates for repairs.
The increase is intended to raise annual collections substantially from the drain’s current annual take (the chair noted prior annual collections of about $255.01) to support tile replacement and phased repairs. The board did not record a roll-call tally; the motion passed by voice vote. The board closed the hearing and moved to the next agenda item.
