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Resident asks LaPorte County Drainage Board to restore Mill Creek crossing; board tables request pending investigation
Summary
Jan Lindborg and counsel asked the board for permission to access and lower an impoundment on a Mill Creek lateral that the presenters say was intentionally obstructed; the board directed staff and the county surveyor to investigate and tabled the matter until the August meeting.
A property owner told the LaPorte County Drainage Board on June 9 that concrete blocks and liner material placed at a crossing have caused upstream flooding, and requested administrative relief to restore a Mill Creek lateral to its intended elevation.
Jan Lindborg identified himself and said he could not reach the crossing from his property without using a boat. Attorney Brian Woodward, representing Lindborg, described a concrete obstruction and a higher replacement culvert that had created a persistent impoundment. Woodward said the obstruction included concrete blocks and plastic materials placed to hold water and that litigation and a mediated settlement are part of the background. "He's just looking to restore it to the condition that it was intended to be," Woodward said.
Scott Severson, who assisted Lindborg with a recent field float, told the board that removing pieces of concrete and lowering the impoundment “one foot at a time” could provide relief and would not be a labor‑intensive operation. Board members and staff discussed access issues, including deep water, wooded easements, and concerns about who owns the affected parcel (the Bernanke property was identified as holding most of the pond). The board emphasized the need to update records and site elevations before taking action.
The board voted to table the request to the August meeting while directing staff and the county surveyor to research historical records, review the mediated settlement terms, and attempt additional site inspections. Board members noted recent heavy rain increased the urgency for field verification, but they declined to authorize immediate entry without further investigation.
Why it matters: The petition raises easement, access, and maintenance questions that affect property flooding and the board’s ability to perform ditch maintenance. The proceeding also demonstrates the board’s preference for administrative remedies before escalating active litigation.
Next steps: Staff and the county surveyor will investigate records and attempt site access; the board will revisit the matter at its August 11 meeting unless staff completes interim steps sooner.
