Hewitt board approves diversion design, moves to buy Korth property for Maple Street waterway

The Village of Hewitt board on June 29 approved a revised drainage design intended to reduce runoff down 1st and 2nd Streets by roughly 80 percent and voted to buy land from property owner Rob Korth to establish a Maple Street diversion waterway.

Brandon Whipple of the Wood County Highway Department presented the design, which would create a diversion along Maple Street from its east end, route flow around 10999 W. 2nd Street through the south backyards to the existing drainage way, install a new 24" cross culvert under 2nd Street, lower inlets north of Yellowstone Drive and clean ditches as needed. The plan calls for re-evaluating individual property culverts and recommends property owners replace culverts determined to be inadequate at their own expense. The board adopted the Wood County Highway Department's revised scope and design, with the caveat that details may be modified as the project proceeds.

The board approved a motion to purchase land from Rob Korth to permit the proposed diversion to cross his field to the corner property line of 10999 W. 2nd Street. The purchase vote (motion by Travis Wienke, seconded by Tom Iwanski) carried. The board also discussed holding another public meeting for residents on 1st and 2nd Streets; details will be announced later.

Project timing given at the meeting sets tentative 'spot ditching' to begin July 13, with the Maple Street diversion scheduled for Fall 2026 after crops are harvested. The Village will assume ongoing maintenance responsibility for the proposed Maple diversion, and the design specifies a curved intercept at the Korth corner rather than a sharp right-angle connection.

The meeting record notes a trade-off: chip sealing for 2nd and Maple Streets is on hold for 2026 while the diversion work proceeds. The board kept the record open to refine engineering details and engage affected residents before construction.