Ditch Dispute Deepens as Culvert Falls Short of Specs

by Trinity Gruenberg

trinity@inhnews.com

The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, September 23.

Judicial Ditch 3 Obstruction Complaint

The Wadena County Board of Commissioners addressed an ongoing complaint regarding an obstruction in Judicial Ditch #3. The issue centers on a landowner’s installation of a culvert and trail crossings, which may not meet the original design specifications for the ditch.

According to County Engineer Anthony Maule, the original plans for Judicial Ditch 3 called for 72-inch culverts. The landowner in question has installed a 24-inch culvert, which they argue is sufficient for their needs and provides necessary access to their property. The landowner also expressed they would like to keep the crossings to access their parcel and suggested that the original culvert size may be larger than necessary.

The board discussed the need for a hydraulic study to determine if a smaller culvert could adequately handle water flow without causing issues for surrounding landowners. Typically, the cost of such a study would be borne by the landowner proposing the crossing.

After reviewing the draft of a letter to the landowner, the board authorized sending the letter and scheduled a public hearing for October 14 at 10 a.m. The hearing will provide an opportunity for the landowner and other interested parties to present their perspectives and any supporting data.

The commissioners emphasized the importance of following due process and ensuring that any modifications to the ditch system are supported by appropriate engineering analysis. No final decision on the required culvert size or removal of the obstruction will be made until after the public hearing and review of any additional information...

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