Neighbors urge Davison County to clear ditch on Vlieger property; board takes no action

Attorney Kiera Leddy, representing several neighboring landowners, told the Davison County Drainage Board Sept. 16 that runoff is being blocked by a county-coordinated ditch on property owned by Steven (Steve) Vlieger in the SW¼ of Section 11 (T104N, R62), causing flooding of roads (243rd and 245th), crops and pasture upstream.

Leddy said affected landowners — including Scott Estabrook, John Fraser and Tom Bannwarth — presented photos and a video showing the ditch on Mr. Vlieger’s property was not cleaned while other portions of the ditch system had been maintained. The neighbors asked the board to require the ditch be cleaned, trees removed and obstructing culverts addressed, asserting that the drainage function of the ditch must be maintained under county requirements.

Mr. Vlieger told the board he purchased the land in 1994 and that when he bought it the crossing pipes were two 24-inch plastic pipes; he said he replaced them with two 36-inch culverts. He said he has performed some tree removal but has not done dirt work and said he did not want his trees removed or the slope altered. He also noted that there are other natural drainage routes contributing to the flows.

Acting Drainage Administrator Wegleitner told the board that either the county or a landowner may clean a county-coordinated ditch, but county crews require permission from the landowner to be on the property. Board members discussed culvert sizing and the time it can take for the area to drain; at multiple points the board emphasized this was a discussion-only item and that no formal action was taken.

The transcript records competing claims from neighbors and the property owner; the matter remains unresolved in the meeting record. The board did not direct staff to take immediate enforcement action during the session.