Drainage authority sets Minneopa Creek acceptance hearing and approves County Ditch 56 engineer amendment

The Drainage Authority asked the board to set a contract acceptance hearing for dirt and debris removal work on Minneopa Creek, which serves as an outlet for eight public drainage systems in Butternut Valley, Judson and Lincoln townships. Staff requested the acceptance hearing be set for Jan. 20, 2026, at 9 a.m. in the Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners’ room; the board approved setting that hearing by motion and voice vote.

On a related drainage matter, staff described an amendment to the engineer’s final report for County Ditch 56 (the watershed is approximately 9,400 acres, affecting Garden City and Lincoln townships). Petitioners included the Blue Earth County Soil and Water Conservation District and Michael and Liz Sant; Charles J. Brownell of ISG was previously appointed engineer to prepare a report. An amendment submitted to drainage management staff removed the Branch 1 reroute from the engineer’s plans because an easement could not be secured but retained the establishment of a sediment/settlement pond. The drainage authority voted to approve the engineer’s memo removing the Branch 1 reroute from the construction plans.

Both items were procedural approvals at the Jan. 6 session; the Minneopa Creek item includes a scheduled acceptance hearing to confirm final contract completion on Jan. 20.