05/15/1985 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 1 SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING May 15, 1985 Page -3- Mr. Rudd explained that when the watershed districts were formed the County Board of Commissioners turned over the jurisdiction of all county ditches to the watershed boards of managers. The county is out of the ditch problem. In areas where there is no watershed district the county does nothing until a petition is received, hearings are held and the cost of the repair is assessed back to the benefited property owners. Mr. Reinert asked what does the county do when improperly funct- ioning ditches affect the county highways? Mr. Ruud said in most areas improperly functioning ditches have not had much impact. He referred to Birch Street. In the Coon Creek Watershed area this has been a problem and this has caused controversy. The county works with the watershed district to implement the county program with what is available. Now projects are becoming tougher. Mr. Reinert said it appears the county and the watershed districts are passing the buck back and forth between each other. Mr. *Ruud said the county will work with both the city and watershed district and the county share of the costs are not just the cost of dtiches in the right of way but sharing in some of the costs of the outlets that have to be provided. Mayor Benson explained this problem is multiplied because of the area that is affected and because of all the government agencies that are affected. This meeting was called because of this pro- blem to understand what direction should be taken. In this way there will be no duplication of monies spent. Mr. Reinert suggested this could be a pilot project to see how everyone can jointly work together and solve the problem. Lets move forward with a positive approach and see what happens. Mr. Chuck Nelson asked when Mr. Ruud and Mr. Davidson reviewed the situation on 4th Avenue last fall what was resolved. Mr. Ruud said the temporary outlet through LeBlonds property was proposed but nothing permanent. He explained the plans are not far enough along to determine the needs in that area. Mr. Nelson explained that right now the people in Sherwood Green are caught in the middle. Something is going to have to be done soon. Mr. Pete Willenbring with RCWD explained the problem from the watershed district prospective. RCWD does have jurisdiction over the county ditches. Getting water to the ditches is a municipal concern and probably not one the district would be involved in. The RCWD does have the responsibility to maintain county ditch #22. The district does act upon receiving petitions from the municipality to maintain the ditch system. One way to handle this is to bring the ditch back to its original cross section 195