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Hamilton County Drainage Board approves reconstruction for Ritchey Woods segment of Margaret O’Brien Drain
Summary
The Board unanimously approved a developer-funded reconstruction to enclose about 76 feet of the Margaret O’Brien Drain to accommodate the Ritchey Woods Senior Apartments driveway; work includes 68 feet of 48-inch pipe and a 16-by-8-foot structure. The developer must post surety equal to 120% of the engineer’s estimate before work begins.
The Hamilton County Drainage Board on May 11 approved a reconstruction report for a segment of the Margaret O’Brien Drain tied to the Ritchey Woods Senior Apartments development, finding the project’s benefits exceed its costs. The action establishes the reconstruction and adopts the proposed Schedule of Assessments, subject to field verification.
Surveyor Gary Duncan presented the petition and Abonmarche construction plans dated March 31, 2026, filed by Executive Investments LLC and related parties. The proposal calls for enclosing roughly 76 feet of existing open ditch (the 1980 outlet reconstruction arm), extending a tile segment of the Crosspointe Business Park arm and installing 68 feet of 48-inch reinforced concrete pipe and a 16-by-8-foot reinforced concrete structure labeled structure 408 on the plans to permit a driveway over the drain. The Surveyor noted the original drain was established in 1909 and portions were reconstructed in 1980.
The Board recorded that the reconstruction will be performed entirely on parcels owned or controlled by the petitioner and paid for by the developer. The Surveyor’s memorandum states that no easement acquisition or reduction is required and that, per Board policy, the developer must post surety equal to 120% of the engineer’s estimate before beginning work. The Surveyor recommended approval under the statutory hearing process (referencing LC. 36-9-27-52.5).
President Mark Heirbrandt opened the public hearing, and seeing no public commenters closed it. Vice President Christine Altman moved to approve the Surveyor’s report for the Ritchey Woods reconstruction; Member Steven C. Dillinger seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The Board’s findings and order adopt the Schedule of Assessments as presented, subject to amendment after the Board’s inspection if any landowners were erroneously included or omitted. No timing for construction was specified at the hearing; the record notes the petitioner had not yet submitted the required surety at the time of the meeting.
The Board will inspect the subject drain in the field to confirm assessment boundaries and permit implementation once the developer complies with surety and permitting requirements.
