Local farmers press board to preserve trees and clear clogged creeks during public comment

During the public-comment period at the Delaware County Drainage Board meeting, two residents raised maintenance concerns about local ditches and small creeks.

Cheryl Dawson of 4214 West Day Road 28 told the board she and helpers had hand-cleared a stretch of Kilbuck Creek on her family farm to preserve young walnut trees and other desirable vegetation. She described a selective, manual approach to removal of fallen trees and honeysuckle and said her farm is organic, which constrains use of broadcast herbicides. "I just want the ability to conserve trees and do it in a way that's not real destructive to that area," Dawson said, asking the board whether her property had been placed on the county's list for excavator debrushing.

Board members acknowledged Dawson's work and said that if a landowner "won't let us bring equipment on to clear the ditch" they would have to maintain it themselves; members also said they would note her request and put the location on the list. The exchange included a request from a board member with hearing difficulty for staff to repeat Dawson's main points aloud so they could be recorded.

Later in public comment, Max Hayden of 11250 South Honey Creek Road asked the board to dredge Volks (referred to in the transcript as Walter's/Volks) Creek, describing two-foot trees and bank collapse that he said obstruct flow across 700 South. He asked that the surveyor add the location to the survey list and follow up for potential dredging.

The board noted both locations for follow-up inspection; no construction or contractor action was authorized during the public-comment period. The board's subsequent debrushing list discussion referenced countywide priorities and the plan to write specifications and solicit quotes for selected sites.