Marshall County resident urges commissioners to address chronic flooding and debris on Ironwood Road

Friday, April 24, 2026 at 2:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

A local resident is calling on the Marshall County Commissioners to address chronic flooding and hazardous agricultural debris washing onto Ironwood Road during heavy rains.

Jeff Berger, who resides at 6606 Ironwood Road, appeared before the commissioners this week to highlight the dangerous conditions on the stretch of road between 6B and 7th Roads. Berger explained that the low-lying roadway floods whenever the area receives two or more inches of rain.

Compounding the flooding is debris from an adjacent rented farm field. Berger reported that floodwaters carry corn stalks—and last year, soybeans—onto the roadway, sometimes piling up to a foot deep. Commissioner Adam Faulstich noted he observed a similar issue on Cedar Road between 6th and 7th Roads, where corn stalks were piled nearly two feet high.

Concerned about the safety of unsuspecting motorists who could wreck after hitting the debris, Berger has taken matters into his own hands. He told the commissioners that he frequently uses his personal skid-loader to clear the road when the County Highway Department is tied up with other weather-related emergencies.

To permanently resolve the issue, Berger suggested the county raise a 150- to 200-foot section of Ironwood Road. He pointed out that the county successfully mitigated similar flooding issues by elevating 7th Road and King Road about two decades ago.

County Attorney Sean Surrisi clarified that while the county is responsible for clearing temporary weather-related obstructions from roadways, disputes over debris washing from one private property to another could be considered a civil nuisance claim between neighbors. Commissioner Jesse Bohannon argued that if the debris is an ongoing issue, the farming property owner should bear some responsibility for keeping the material off the road.

As a temporary measure, Commissioner Stan Klotz, who recently visited the site after receiving a call from Berger, suggested installing a snow fence to catch the floating debris before it reaches the pavement.

Ultimately, the commissioners directed County Highway Superintendent Jason Peters to assess the site and determine what steps and costs would be required to address the recurring flooding on Ironwood Road.