Neighbor urges action as board reviews Little Black Creek maintenance

During a maintenance update the board discussed Little Black Creek and related requests for the Fowler and Hmel/Hummel reaches. The board said some items lacked formal petition paperwork and that Madison County coordination and updated assessment rolls were pending.

Resident Randy Kits, who gave his address for the record, told the board he owns ground where Hmel Creek runs and said maintenance is needed: "There's a lot of trees, a lot of brush... it's been a long time since maintenance been done there." He asked how to proceed and whether the board could send letters for quotes and schedule phased work.

Board staff and members asked Kits to provide map points and to get on the agenda so staff could prepare a phased bid for removal of trees and brush; staff volunteered to inspect the reach and add the work to the next agenda and bid schedule. The board noted that both sides of the creek could be worked on but that doing both would raise the cost.

No final contract was awarded. The board instructed staff to inspect the creek, prepare a phased scope and put the item on a future agenda for formal bidding and approval.