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Dickinson County Supervisors Talk About Possible Dissolution Of A Drainage District

December 12, 2023 Steve Schwaller

(Spirit Lake)– There was discussion at today’s (Tues.) Dickinson County Board of Supervisors meeting about the possible dissolution of drainage district 50. It stems from an issue with branch 33 of that district, on the north edge of Milford. A business owner in that area several years ago petitioned for work to be done after his property was flooded. The supervisors, acting as trustees for the district, awarded a bid on a project to address the problem, but wound up abandoning it after learning the cost was going to be much higher than first expected due in large part to construction that had taken place over the years over easements and drainage structures. That resulted in adjacent landowners, including the Iowa Great Lakes Sanitary District, being assessed large amounts of money to cover engineering fees and some work that had already been done. Supervisor Tim Fairchild spoke in favor of dissolving the district…

“When you look down on all of the buildings that have been built over the top of different parts of this drainage district, this problem is not unique to this particular branch. I mean there’s a lot of people that could get huge assessments. And the thing I have learned sitting on this board as a drainage district trustee, I will use everything in my power to follow drainage law to the letter of the law. And that means if someone files for a petition to repair or improve and your building’s in the way, I will insist that that building be removed at your expense. And I think that’s the letter to the law. Had we followed that in the first place, a lot of people would have smaller bills, I think. Maybe I’m sounding harsh but the reality is a lot people get, let’s just say, screwed, the way it is.”

An engineer representing the city of Milford offered his thoughts as well…

“I think the city’s issue would be then, the original petitioners still have the same issue and then if it’s no longer a drainage district, it’s now on the city of Milford. And they have the luxury of knowing what the potential cost and impact of not doing anything, or fixing it, and taking on that burden, you know, should they agree.”

The supervisors tabled action until next week’s meeting as an engineer representing the county on the matter was unable to attend today’s (Tues.) meeting due to an illness.

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