Board hears concerns about surveyor office backlog, asks staff to identify delays and consider outside help

Hamilton County Drainage Board members on July 14, 2025 discussed complaints from builders and realtors about long review times for drainage plans and asked surveyor’s office staff to provide specific examples and consider outside help to clear backlog.

Board members said they were getting “considerable concern” from builders and realtors about timeframes for single‑family home plan reviews and drainage approvals. A staff member said many pending items are waiting on property owners or engineers to return revised plans; the surveyor’s office indicated it has been reviewing submitted plans but sometimes restarts reviews when revised plans are submitted.

Board members proposed two options: hire vetted outside reviewers (the transcript mentions firms such as Banning and Miller as potential contractors) to assist with review capacity, or consider procedural adjustments. Staff and board emphasized keeping standards high. One board member asked staff to copy the drainage board on variance/processing correspondence so the board can respond when builders complain.

The board asked staff to compile the specific delayed projects, communicate a timeline for review, and explore contracting options to accelerate processing while preserving technical standards. No formal vote was taken; staff agreed to provide a list of outstanding projects and to discuss potential outside reviewers at a future meeting.