Wright County trustees approve improvements for Drainage District 169, estimate $1.22 million in landowner costs

Wright County drainage trustees voted Aug. 10 to move forward with a set of tile and lateral improvements for Drainage District 169 after an Agravia engineering presentation and landowner questions. The engineer presented a full plan to replace and extend mains and laterals, with a target completion date of Sept. 15, 2027, and a bid opening scheduled for Sept. 28 at 10:00 a.m.

Agravia's presenter said, "We have the construction cost estimated at $983,000," and explained additional items — secondary‑road crossings and non‑construction work such as engineering, legal and administration — brought the total estimated landowner cost to about $1,219,000. The firm presented an assessment estimate that averaged $884 per acre but noted individual assessments will vary by benefit and the formal reclassification process. Trustees approved a motion to proceed with plans and specifications and to set a bid opening date; the motion carried.

The engineer described the proposed changes in detail: a new main that is generally 36 inches near the outlet tapering to 24 inches, with some portions shrinking further to 12 inches at the far end, two proposed laterals to improve outlets for parts of the district, and an extension to Buchanan Avenue to replace a private tile identified as a bottleneck. The report said the existing outlet tile is operating at roughly 60% of the recommended 0.5‑inch drainage coefficient and recommended upsizing or grade improvements to meet the standard.

Landowners raised several concerns during the hearing about the fate of the old main the report proposes to abandon as a district facility. Agravia said the district would document the old main as abandoned and provide a letter in the project record; the old main could become the property of the landowners on whose land it sits, and the engineer noted options — including running short 12‑inch connector stubs (equalizers) and capping lines — to reduce maintenance risk and clarify responsibilities.

Trustees were given a timeline for next steps: the engineer expects to advertise for bids after plans are finalized (publication requires two consecutive weekly notices), tentatively opening bids in mid‑ to late‑September. If bids are accepted, the board planned to proceed to reclassification and final assessments based on bid results. The hearing record and the engineer's report will be part of the official project file.