Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Road Crossing Permit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident tells Whitley County board an 850 West road crossing happened without a Whitley County permit
Summary
At a Whitley County Drainage Board meeting a resident said contractors crossed 850 West and installed tile without the county permit; staff confirmed a fine was issued and advised the resident that any fee waiver must be considered by the county commissioners.
Jason Doctor, who identified himself to the board as “Jason Doctor, 6484 South Meridian Road, Columbia City, Indiana,” told the Whitley County Drainage Board that contractors cut and ran tile across 850 West without pulling a Whitley County road‑crossing permit. “My wife pulled some in Huntington County instead of Whitley County,” he said, explaining the mistake.
Staff told the board they were contacted after the work. County staff told Doctor the crossing affects a county tax drain and that the highway department handles road crossings; staff said they did not find a Whitley County permit for the work and that the county issued a $1,000 fine for failing to pull the correct permit. Doctor said he subsequently pulled the permit and expected to raise the issue at a commissioners' meeting to request relief.
Board members and staff described the technical and procedural limits: staff said the county tax drain remains in place on the south side of the culvert and that the contractors constructed new tile on the north side at their expense. A staff member summarized the board’s position: they expect contractors and property owners to submit plans, use designated backfill, and secure road‑crossing permits when required. The board noted that fee waivers or reductions must be handled by the county commissioners.
The matter was discussed but no formal action by the Drainage Board to reverse or waive the fine was taken; staff recommended the resident bring the matter to the commissioners for a waiver vote. The board advised the resident to coordinate with staff and the highway department on next steps.
