Drainage board tables $49,200 reconstruction task order, asks engineers to attend February meeting

The Delaware County Drainage Board discussed two reconstruction projects, including one near Hogg Creek on 700 East, and tabled a $49,200 task order for design and survey work until engineering firm representatives can answer board questions.

Speaker 5 summarized the situation: Lochmueller Engineering provided a task order totaling $49,200 covering watershed delineation, survey and total design work necessary to decide whether to proceed to construction. Several board members said they wanted company representatives—Lochmueller and Banning Engineering—at the February meeting to answer questions about scope and costs before authorizing design work. Speaker 2 moved to table approval of task order No. 1 until those questions are addressed; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call.

The board also reviewed a continuing Racer Ditch claim. Speaker 7 reported the contractor left a small pile of trees and some logs and had billed for the final 20 percent; the contractor expects to remove remaining debris when ground conditions permit. One board member said incomplete work should not be approved for maintenance payment. Speaker 5 moved to approve maintenance claims with the exception of the JJC claim for the Racer Ditch; the motion passed with one abstention recorded. The transcript does not clearly state the monetary amount of the JJC claim.

Separately, the board discussed a Schwieterman claim for three sinkholes. Speaker 7 said the landowner (Brian Winter) asked a contractor to fix sinkholes after hours and submitted a claim; the board noted the repairs were done without prior approval but appeared acceptable. Members cautioned that approving unplanned repairs should not become routine.

Next steps: engineering firms were asked to attend the February meeting with detailed answers; staff will maintain reconstruction files and track potential costs that, if reconstruction is approved, would be charged to affected landowners rather than the board's maintenance fund.