Commissioners decline to pursue Flat Rock watershed development commission after public pushback

The Decatur County Commissioners voted July 20 to not pursue joining a proposed Flat Rock Watershed Development Commission after a state Department of Natural Resources presentation and extensive public comment.

The vote followed a presentation by Andy, a DNR representative, who outlined how watershed development commissions are formed under a 2023 statute, what powers they can exercise (flood damage reduction, stormwater coordination, water-quality studies, bank stabilization, bridge work) and how they are funded (an annual special assessment with statutory caps).

The DNR presenter told commissioners the HUC-8 Flat Rock watershed includes a small sliver of Decatur County — about 6% of county land falls in that watershed — and explained assessment caps in the statute (examples: residential maximum $7 per parcel per year, agricultural $1 per acre) and governance arrangements that include county designees and a DNR representative.

Multiple residents and stakeholders urged the board to reject the county joining the commission. "Flat Rock River has been around for, give or take, 100,000 years," a resident said, arguing the river does not need new governance and warning that a future commission could expand taxes and easements. Mark Schooler, representing the Flat Rock River YMCA camp, said the camp owns 260 acres along the river and that a proposed 75-foot easement from top-of-bank would interfere with program space and safety measures. "That 75 feet that was mentioned is very concerning for us," Schooler said.

Other speakers raised similar concerns about private-property impacts and taxation. Lynn Paul, who operates a campground, warned about groundwater declines she attributed to data-center development and asked what would happen to the river if groundwater drops; Ken Ewing, a landowner since 1989, said he typically manages only minor debris and believes the river "cleans itself." Several speakers described the proposal as potential government overreach and urged the commission not to place new assessments on private land.

After the public comment period, Chair moved "that at this point, we don't pursue this," a motion that was seconded and approved by voice vote. Commissioners also noted that counties with less than the 10% watershed threshold may have other options, such as joining an existing commission, and that the county could revisit the idea later.

What happens next: commissioners recorded a formal motion to not pursue the Flat Rock Watershed Development Commission at this time and closed the item. The DNR presentation and public comments were entered into the record; no ordinance or assessment was adopted by the county during the meeting.