Commissioners Revisit Several Topics

by Trinity Gruenberg

trinity@inhnews.com

The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, October 14.

Judicial Ditch #3 Obstruction

A public hearing was held regarding the obstructions previously discussed in Orton Township. Property owners Timothy and Kristina Estabrooks addressed the issues pertaining to these obstructions.

They highlighted a culvert (location A) installed to provide vehicle access across a ditch, which is currently sized at 24 inches. Additionally, a stone footpath (location B) was constructed using pre-existing large rocks, presumably from a previous town road project, with smaller stones added for easier foot traffic. Kristina emphasized that water can flow through and over these rocks without obstructing drainage. An area near a beaver dam (location C, in Cass County) was previously used for access but had dirt removed after a county inspection to restore proper water movement.

After receiving a notice of potential obstructions from the county, Kristina gathered engineering opinions and hydraulic data to demonstrate that a 48-inch culvert would be sufficient for drainage. She presented her findings to the board, clarified that the large stones predated her ownership of the property, and expressed her willingness to adjust the crossings to meet regulatory requirements. She requested approval to maintain the existing culvert.

County Engineer Anthony Maule noted that the hydraulic data presented by Kristina from WSB is valid for that drainage area and recommended a minimum culvert size of 48 inches...

Subscribe to get the rest of the story...