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Benton County ditch authority schedules public hearing on CD 10 repair for June 8
Summary
The Benton County Ditch Authority set a public hearing on an engineer's repair report for County Ditch 10 for Monday, June 8 at 6 p.m. in the government center community room, and agreed to notify hundreds of benefiting landowners; the motion passed by roll call.
The Benton County Ditch Authority voted to set a public hearing on the engineer's repair report for County Ditch (CD) 10 for Monday, June 8, with doors to open at 5 p.m. and the hearing to begin at 6 p.m. at the government center community room. Adam, the county ditch staff member who presented the report, told the board state statute requires a hearing after receipt of the engineer's report and that notices must go to all benefiting landowners and to the outlets for CD 6 and CD 7 that connect to CD 10.
Why it matters: The engineer's report triggers formal notice and a public forum where landowners can testify and the authority may later decide whether to proceed with repairs, adopt alternatives or table action. Staff told the board there are roughly hundreds of parcels that must be notified; commissioners noted the venue must accommodate a potentially large turnout.
Adam said the county received the engineer's report in May and that, under statute, the hearing must occur within the statutory window after the report is presented. Commissioners and staff discussed venue options — Foley Auditorium, the Riverside Terrace, the high school auditorium and the government center clearing — before confirming the government center community room was available for June 8; staff agreed to cancel the previously booked Riverside Terrace date.
A motion to set the public hearing for June 8 at 6 p.m. was made and seconded. The board conducted a roll-call vote; five commissioners answered in the affirmative and the motion carried. The authority directed staff to send notices by mail to all benefiting landowners and to confirm attendance by the county's engineer representatives and Houston Engineering staff for the hearing.
Board members stressed that the hearing is a locus for public testimony and not an automatic approval of repairs. "If you guys go forward with the repair or you table it or do a different alternative, that is up to you all. But today is just to set the public hearing," Adam said when explaining the limited scope of the vote.
Next steps: Staff will mail notices to benefiting landowners and follow up with Houston Engineering and the county engineer to confirm who can attend June 8. The hearing will collect public testimony on the repair report; the authority may continue the hearing or take further steps after hearing from landowners.
