Trustees set July hearing on DD169, approve change orders and order mapping and work orders for drainage issues

As trustees of the drainage districts, the Wright County Board of Supervisors addressed multiple maintenance and contract items on June 1: they set a public hearing on the DD169 engineering report for 10 a.m. July 20, approved drainage claims totaling $52,954.17, and authorized change orders to the brush-and-weed control contract affecting several districts.

Courtney Morris, recorded in the meeting as a range administrator/staff contact for drainage matters, presented contractor-submitted photos and invoices and summarized additional work recommended by TVB Spraying. The record shows revised quotes for DD10 and DD10 lateral 1; the meeting transcript records DD10’s original estimated amount as "2,94" with a new quote of $3,500 (a recorded increase of $596) and DD10 lateral 1’s original estimate as $844.80 with a new quote of $2,000 (a recorded increase of $1,155.20). Trustees approved the change orders and directed staff to obtain contractor signatures and proceed with necessary documentation.

During public forum, a landowner described a plugged concrete tile on DD183 (reported as 16 or 20 inches) with a repair estimate of about $18,000; trustees discussed options including replacing the run with smooth dual-wall pipe or rerouting, and noted willow-root complications that may require chemical treatment plus mechanical removal. Staff said the contractor would provide a formal cost estimate and that, if costs exceed statutory/administrative thresholds, the board would return the item for further action and possible landowner notification/assessment.

Trustees also asked staff to pin the locations identified in contractor photographs, prepare work orders for washouts, contact affected landowners about obstructions (including a reported I-beam and a pole in ditches), and confirm district boundaries for assessment purposes. The board approved listed drainage invoices and adjourned the drainage portion of the meeting.