Chair: Bids to open Friday; county will assess whether landowners must cover Green Tile Watershed costs

The Chair said bids for the Green Tile Watershed drainage project will open Friday at 10:30, and that the county will assess next steps — including a public hearing for landowners at the April meeting — once bid amounts are known.

The Chair told committee members they should expect clearer numbers at the April meeting and that any assessment method (per lot or per acre) will be evaluated after bids are opened. A committee member asked whether the county would be able to tell local residents if their drainage tax would increase and, if so, by how much; the Chair replied that the April meeting should offer a better estimate.

Committee members also discussed prior emails from the State Board of Accounts. One committee member advised framing questions to the board to ask for "what the repercussions would be" if the county asked landowners not to repay costs rather than using the word "penalty," noting that state replies can be cautious to avoid liability: "they answer it without giving you an answer because they don't want liability." The committee agreed staff should seek a clear, practical response from the board before finalizing funding plans.

No dollar figures or final funding decisions were made at the meeting; one committee member asked whether project costs might exceed $500,000, but the committee agreed that the exact total will be "not specified" until bids arrive. The Chair said he will share any responses and bid information with members and that a public hearing would be scheduled in April if the numbers indicate further action is required.

The committee did not adopt any motion on funding at this meeting; it set the next step as reviewing bids and holding a public hearing to notify and consult watershed landowners.