Local farmer describes collapsing clay tile; board to review funds and options

Brad Atkins addressed the Grant County Drainage Board and provided his name and address for the record, reporting recurring collapses in an old 24‑inch clay tile that have produced large holes in his field and damaged farm equipment. Atkins said he and contractors ran a camera and found structural failure; he asked how to proceed without repeatedly repairing the same sections.

Board members and staff reviewed a recently installed 30‑inch tile installed by the highway department on the east side of County Road 700. Discussion focused on whether laterals from the west could be tied into the new tile, whether the board should run a machine to find laterals and remove the old tile, and who would bear the cost for any dirt or fill when collapsed sections are repaired.

Bill Chastain and other landowners described work already completed to the north and the need to coordinate lateral connections. Joe Seard (contractor referenced) and staff confirmed partial camera runs and that some laterals remain uncertain until trenching or machine runs locate them. Raymond said he would return with an accounting of available funds for the Simmons tile account and the board agreed to determine how much of any collected maintenance money should be allocated to pay outstanding invoices and to cover work to reconnect laterals and remove failing tile.

No final funding decision was made; the board tabled immediate action pending staff follow‑up, contractor cost estimates and confirmation of whether the board should run machine work to locate and tie in laterals.