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Board approves periodic maintenance for Hatch Drain after farmers report lost acreage
Summary
Allen County approved establishing periodic maintenance for the Hatch Drain Feb. 19, 2026; ACSO estimated debrushing and silt removal at $127,950, and two landowners testified they had lost several acres to flooding.
The Allen County Drainage Board approved establishment of periodic maintenance for the Hatch Drain at its Feb. 19 meeting after ACSO presented cost estimates and landowners described long‑standing drainage problems.
Joe Magsam of the Allen County Surveyor Office told the board the proposed assessment would be $5.00 per acre with a $25 minimum for agricultural/residential/vacant/exempt parcels and $20.00 per acre with a $100 minimum for commercial/industrial/utility/railroad parcels, projecting $8,632 in annual collections and an eight‑year high balance of $69,056. The ACSO estimated debrushing and silt removal would cost about $127,950. One written objection came from Nancy Caywood, who said her property does not contribute runoff; Magsam showed contour mapping to demonstrate it does.
Two landowners, Archie Hill and Patrick Herman, told the board the ditch had not been cleaned in decades and that farmable land has been lost. Hill said he has owned his property since 1968 and that "it has never been cleaned and he is losing ground... He has lost 5-6 acres of land due to flooding." Ron Turpin moved to close the hearing and later moved to approve Doc #26-012; Rich Beck seconded and the motion carried.
