County Drainage Board accepts petitions in Snyder-Carothers Watershed

Last week, members of the Marshall County Drainage Board accepted two petitions in the same watershed, the Snyder-Carothers Watershed.  

The first petition was to assume jurisdiction over a private mutual tile drain, while the second petition is to place a portion of the ditch under collection for maintenance.

County Surveyor Craig Cultice said there’s been some flooding along Olive Trail, and Councilwoman Nicole Cox spearheaded this by gathering signatures on a petition. 

Cultice said this is a private tile on private property, so he needs permission to conduct reconnaissance to determine what kind of shape it is in.  He said if the tile is junk, the Drainage Board won’t want to keep it, but if it is in decent shape, they can accept it into the county’s system.  If granted, Cultice will bring a report to the August meeting on the private mutual drain’s condition.

The surveyor said the Crothers Ditch is already a county drain, but it’s not on maintenance.  If the drainage board determines they are willing to bring in the private mutual drain, it will require enlarging the watershed to include all the new area.

The Snyder-Carothers watershed currently has a balance of $930, and annually it only collects $1,163, so the assessment on the watershed needs to be increased.  Cultice said a public hearing would have to be conducted to increase the maintenance assessment rate. 

Drainage Board President, Randy Glingle, questioned the flooding issue and asked the surveyor what he suspected. Cultice said there is an issue, but he doesn’t know if it’s roots in the line or a broken-down tile.  He also said there is no money to work on this tile, and a contractor will have to be paid, so he recommended using money from the Watershed Maintenance Fund for the investigation. 

Glingle asked how the county could spend money on a private tile, and Cultice said they have to determine the condition of the tile somehow. 

County Attorney Sean Surrisi said county funds could be used for the investigation because it is with the intent to take over the private mutual tile. 

Drainage Board member Stan Klotz said, “We can’t fix it unless we take it in.”   

The Marshall County Drainage Board unanimously approved a motion to investigate the tile and accept both petitions in the Snyder-Carother Watershed.