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County offers 50/50 fence-cost sharing as first step to clear Pigeon Creek ditch
Summary
County Commissioner Chuck Lewis told the Fort Branch council the county plans to clear about 3,000 feet of the Pigeon Creek lateral and offered a good-faith 50/50 split of fence removal and reinstallation costs (estimate ~$18,000) to move the project forward; the council voted to accept the county's offer.
County Commissioner Chuck Lewis told the Fort Branch town council that his office plans to clean and reopen a roughly 3,000‑foot stretch of a Pigeon Creek lateral near the town’s sewage disposal plant and offered to split the cost of temporarily removing and reinstalling the fence around the sewer-plant property with the town.
"We are willing to split the cost of the fence 50/50 with the town of Fort Branch," Lewis said, presenting a contractor estimate of about $18,000 and stating the county’s not‑to‑exceed share would be approximately $9,320. He said the county will prepare specifications, solicit bids and meet with affected property owners — including the town — before the work begins.
The commissioner described the work as bank dressing, tree removal and clearing the flow channel from the Coine Road bridge toward the railroad. He said scheduling depends on bids and environmental constraints; staff noted the project cannot start until bat‑roosting season ends and contractors are available.
Town members asked how long the fence would be down and how the site would be secured during work. Lewis said the county and contractor would emphasize completing the opened portion quickly and coordinating timing to reduce the period the fence is removed. He also invited the town to solicit alternate fencing bids if they could secure a lower price; the county reiterated its 50/50 offer would still stand.
After discussion, a council member moved to agree with the county’s offer and the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
What happens next: staff and county surveyors will finish specifications, the county will advertise for bids and, when a contractor is selected, a preconstruction meeting will be held with landowners and the town. The council did not adopt a formal contract at the meeting; the council’s vote accepts the county’s good‑faith cost‑sharing proposal and authorizes staff to coordinate next steps.
