Director outlines proposed stormwater fee increase and Westwood drainage project

Steve Sherwood, director of Stowe and Leatherman, told the Warrick County Drainage Board on Feb. 23 that a proposed stormwater rate increase would be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners that evening and summarized a planned Westwood Subdivision drainage improvement project.

Sherwood said the Westwood project involves 12 property owners and would replace roughly 800 linear feet of existing storm drain pipe, remove and replace six street inlets and area drains, and add two new area drains to address backyard standing water. He said the county has not yet advertised the construction contract because it still needs temporary right-of-entry agreements from all 12 owners.

Sherwood reviewed the history of the stormwater fee: it was established in 2006 at $5 per month and was reduced in 2014 to $4.50 per month. He said the most recent proposal discussed by county staff and cited by Dennis Wilsbacher would take nearly two years to take effect and that final numerical calculations are still pending. Sherwood said any funds earmarked for the county surveyor's office would still require approval and allocation through the stormwater board.

Unidentified Speaker 4 clarified the board's legal authority: public funds can be spent only on regulated (legal) drains established under state statute; private or mutual drains owned by landowners are not eligible without formally creating a regulated drain, a process that requires mailed notice, a public hearing and an amendment to the county drain map.

Board members urged surveyor and stormwater staff to collect public concerns about dangerous ditches and indicated they would coordinate with the highway department where ditches lie in a road right-of-way. Sherwood and the surveyor agreed to accept lists of problem locations for further review.

Next steps: the proposed fee increase will be considered by the Board of Commissioners; if approved, calculations and allocations for surveyor projects would be finalized and funds brought back to the stormwater board for assignment.