Paul Schriver, Blackford County Surveyor, the main issue that I'm concerned about is we do have a joint board between Delaware County and Blackford County that we're waiting on Delaware County for their information so that Blackford County can do its part. I just have a general comment that's not in my bounds. When I started, we had to do an inventory of county property. Ditches are a county asset. That means they are a liability. The one thing that I did that you, to my knowledge, haven't done yet is you haven't put a cumulative drain fund into place. Cumulative drain fund is generating very close to $2 an acre. That needs to be put into place with the graces of your county council. I think it has to be done by April 1st for the state board of accounts. It does not change your property taxes. It does take away from the other cumulative funds that exist. You collect it from the rural areas. It's not municipal. You could establish it whichever way you want but that is money that doesn't belong to any particular ditch. The big thing is we do have a joint board that needs to be active. Your county north, that butts up against Blackford County, that watershed extends into Delaware County half a mile to a mile. It needs maintenance. I need to have all the landowners addresses and acreage. Mr. Borchers stated I will send you the information on the Fiddler.

BOARD COMMENT:

Mr. Hamilton stated Kyle Johnson is working on a website migration for the drainage board website. If anyone on the board has any comments on what they would like to see on the new website, you can let me know or let Kyle know. I will be having a meeting with Kyle to express our desires. Mr. Christy stated I'd like to thank Mr. Schriver for coming today and I think this board should carefully consider what he has said. And I'd like to thank Mr. Borchers for the agenda today and for giving us an update on the debrushing projects. Legal folks had provided some information related to the county's investment income and I think we should continue to be aware of that and think about the future if we want to take action.

STORM WATER BOARD:

Commissioner Riggin moved for approval of the January 5, 2026 and February 2, 2026 Storm Water Meeting Minutes. Motion seconded by Commissioner Brand. Motion passed 3-0.

OLD BUSINESS:

Mr. Borchers stated I got an email from DNR last week that said they will approve that permit on March 23rd unless something comes back from the public notice. We did have a contractor go out there and remove the log jam, which was the majority of the issue. While he was out there, I had him give me a sealed quote to put in the gabion baskets. Do you want me to get another quote while we were waiting on the permit? Commissioner Brand stated let’s leave that on next month’s agenda under old business.

Tommy Humbert, Delaware County Highway Department, stated we went out there with two and half inches of rain. We did not clean the leaves until it went down. The yard was in pretty good shape. They are not cleaning their leaves off. It was leaves from the fall. We probably cleaned 3 five-gallon buckets worth off of the drain in that one particular yard. I don't know what they've done out there, but it's helped get it away faster than what it was before. Commissioner