Landowners, board split on McConnell drain reconstruction; engineer recommends shelving major upsizing

Delaware County's Drainage Board reopened debate on the McConnell drain reconstruction on Aug. 12, with property owners and staff disagreeing over the scope and timing of repairs.

Gary Hazellet, a nearby landowner, told the board he opposes the project and cited prior failed efforts and cost concerns. "I myself am not in favor of this of any of those repairs. Uh it's too expensive for the money and just seems to be weighted toward one end," Hazellet said, noting reconstruction about 15 years ago had not produced lasting benefits.

Board members reviewed three engineer-proposed alternatives. Mr. Hamilton reported he had spoken with landowners and provided an engineering cost estimate: he said implementing alternative 1 — upsizing an existing 24-inch tile to 30 and 36 inches from Kalan Road to Noame Creek — would cost about "$122 per acre per year for 5 years." He recommended shelving that design until additional pattern tiling or watershed-level drainage work occurs, because the agricultural benefit to many landowners would be limited without broader tile work.

Staff also highlighted alternative 3, a 15-inch repair option the consultant (Banning) proposed, which could be advertised as a repair over 20 years and assessed only to the McConnell watershed. The board discussed surveying and recording the 2009 installation path and using available right-of-way to perform targeted repairs after crops are off.

After discussion, a motion was made to remove the McConnell item from the table and close the issue for now; members voted in favor. The board directed staff to collect GPS parcel outlines and acreage from the consultant so the watershed could be separated for future assessments and to report back with an implementation plan for the smaller repair option.

The issue will return to the agenda once staff receive the survey data and landowner responses.