Drainage board hears maintenance updates, beaver control and flags access issues for revised solar drainage plan

The Gibson County Drainage Board spent a substantial portion of its April 7 meeting on maintenance updates — tree and brush removal, bank reshaping and beaver control — and discussed implications of changes to a reclamation solar project’s drainage plan, including whether easement or inspection-access language should be required.

Staff overviewed multiple projects: tree removal near 800–850 East and north of the boat ramp, completed clearing on Miller’s Creek lateral (part of Upper Pigeon Creek), clearing on an upper lateral called Coal Mire to Muddy Fork, and bank sloughing on the Donahue lateral east of 1025 East and north of 700 South. On the Donahue lateral staff showed photos of bank loss and proposed reshaping the bank and seeding to stabilize it. “If we went in and shaped the bank up and put some seed down, we might be able to…,” staff said while describing the proposed stabilization.

Staff reported nuisance trapping removed beavers and a beaver dam in one area and that there were two beaver dams north of Colemine Road behind the old MD packing facility that are now gone; they said contractors provided drone footage of related work. The board discussed coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife and named Heath Hamilton as the wildlife representative staff had contacted about timing and impacts to bird-watchers.

Board members also discussed the K Road project, noting the recent work appears to be holding and that a long, paired driveway is causing a choke point that creates an air-lock effect in the pipe. Staff said they are exploring a cooperative option where homeowners purchase pipe and the county installs it to alleviate the choke point.

On the reclamation solar project, staff said design changes to the originally approved drainage plan had been submitted and recommended treating a changed drainage plan as a new submittal subject to the county’s review and fee schedule. “If they change the drainage plan, then it's a new drainage plan and the VC schedule would still be in effect,” staff said. Board members raised questions about the requirement for an exclusive easement to access detention ponds and whether visits to private or industrial sites would require escorting or special safety protocols; staff suggested adding ordinance language guaranteeing inspection accessibility and recommendations for maintenance.

Next steps noted in the meeting: staff will review ordinance language and the fee schedule to confirm whether a redesigned drainage plan requires a new application and fee; they will also continue coordination with wildlife representatives on timing for vegetation or tree work.

The board closed the meeting after brief other-business remarks and a motion to adjourn.