Public split at Brookings County meeting: some farmers urge dike repair, riverside residents warn of harm to homes

During public comment more than a dozen residents took five minutes each to state positions that ranged from firm support for rebuilding the dike to sharp concern that the project would shift water toward homes on the east side of the Big Sioux River.

Steve Wicks, a landowner who said he owns roughly 310 acres near Lake Campbell, told the board he favored restoring the dike so ground that has sat wet since about 2004 could return to production. "We would we're in favor of it. I you know, I to have that dike put in because it's not doing us any good," Wicks said.

Residents living on the east side of the river raised opposing concerns. Sean Lesnar, who said he lives three to four hundred yards south of the proposed dike, said recent high flows and changing drainage patterns make him skeptical that the dike will protect properties: "I've lived there 26 years... the river's changing constantly on its own," Lesnar said. DJ Recker said the proposal would lower water on slough land while "raising it where everybody's houses are" and asked how Banner derived large bridge and culvert figures shown in the consultant slides.

Speakers urged better notification of directly affected homeowners, asked who would be financially liable if previously unflooded homes later flooded, and requested specific bridge inspection and culvert calculations. Commissioners acknowledged the tradeoffs and asked Banner to return with clarifications on model inputs, bridge inspection data and cost allocations before the board makes a funding or permitting decision.