Chapman Carroll County Drainage board members, commissioners Bill Brown, Loren Hylton and Pat Clawson, heard concerns from county surveyor Wayne Chapman about two ongoing county projects on Monday morning. Chapman said he did not want the concerns to be considered as a negative attitude about either project, but said it was his job to protect taxpayers.

The design engineer for the Delphi Elementary School renovation project requested approval for plans for a retention pond that will allow run-off to be released into the county drainage system gradually. Chapman said there was nothing wrong with the work plans. However, he expressed concern about the potential of a problem developing which would require work on the county-owned drain in the future.

"If it doesn't work out, we're going to have a problem," Chapman said. "There are just a few people paying into this drain."

He said there was not enough tax income from property owners on the Guiliford Drain to do significant work if needed.

The school corporation's design engineer emphasized there would be no additional flow into the drain from the project, although a larger drainpipe was to be installed.

Chapman replied the county would be unaware of what was released into the drain after the project was completed, unless a problem developed.

Plan approval was tabled until the May 4 monthly meeting to allow for further investigation and consultation.

Full-sized project maps can be viewed in the surveyor's office on the first floor of the courthouse.

Boerman-Carroll Dairy

Chapman told drainage board members the Boerman Carroll Dairy south of Cutler "has me worried a little bit." He said the house is for sale and the operatorfamily is reportedly moving back to Europe.

Chapman said he is concerned because a waterway was left unfinished and nothing was seeded, although the dairy operator was directed by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to seed the area to prevent erosion. Chapman said he is concerned erosion will eventually negatively affect the nearby county drain.

"It's not hurting anything right now," he said. "But it could later on."

He said if the situation was not resolved before the dairy operator left the country, taxpayers would be responsible to fund any solutions needed to address problems.

Clawson said a lot of money was spent by funders of the project and he did not consider it abandoned.

No decisions were made.

Other business

Chapman reported nine work orders were completed in Carrollton, Democrat, Madison and Jackson townships. Work was also done on a drain in Tippecanoe County and a joint drain with Howard County.

The next meeting will be May 4 at 8:30 a.m.