Lake County Drainage Board Meeting - October 15, 2025
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Lake County Drainage Board Meeting - October 15, 2025
The Lake County Drainage Board met on October 15, 2025, at 9:00 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom, with Commissioners Michael Repay and Jerry Tippy present (one member absent). The board approved invoices, discussed current projects, considered applications, increased the MS4 cover crop program funding, and opened bids for the 2025 Schoon Ditch Maintenance Project.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda amended to correct minutes (application 489 withdrawn at the previous meeting) and approved unanimously.
- Minutes of the September 14, 2025 meeting, as corrected, approved.
- Permission to open bids granted.
- Reports and correspondence from the Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission, monthly clearing & snagging crew activity, and project updates accepted as a matter of public record.
Public Comments & Testimony
- None.
Discussion Items
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Item 5 – Current Projects:
- Little Calumet River Watershed: Approved final invoice to Austgen Equipment for emergency repair on Turkey Creek Lateral 5 on 73rd Avenue ($6,257.10).
- Kankakee River Watershed: Approved final invoices to Austgen Equipment for: Foss Ditch Maintenance Phase I ($54,543.48), West Creek Maintenance Phase II ($26,972.24), Bruce Ditch Maintenance Phase II ($14,204.25), and Stoney Run Ditch Middle Branch Lateral No. 4 ($6,976.20). All motions carried 2-0.
- 2025 Schererville Ditch Maintenance: Letter to Stonebridge HOA regarding perpetual maintenance agreement breakout; town notified; awaiting coordination to start work.
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Item 6 – Applications/Petitions:
- Application 485 (Main Beaver Dam Ditch, St. John): LBL Development/McAlpine Consulting; review response received by Structure Point, currently under review; no action needed.
- Petition 126 (CP Prairie, LLC, 2612 E. 109th Avenue): Surveyor Emerson scheduled a meeting with the developer to discuss next steps.
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Item 7 – MS4 Water Quality:
- Approved final invoice for Niles Creek Drain Tile Repair ($11,945.55).
- MS4 Cover Crop Program Agreement: Approved increase from $12,000 to $20,000 annually (last increase in 2016) due to rising participation. Motion carried 2-0.
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Item 10 – Receive and Open Bids:
- 2025 Schoon Ditch Maintenance Project (Calumet Ave to Hart Ditch, Munster, North Twp.): Four bids received: Austgen Equipment ($894,967.00), Delta Three ($753,803.66), Gary Up Construction ($647,500.00), Grimmer Construction ($730,556.00). All bids were in proper order; tree protection was correctly omitted from revised bid sheets. Bids were taken under advisement.
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Item 12 – Other Business – Hanover Tile:
- Discussion on setting a public hearing for reconstruction of a tile at 121st Avenue and State Line Road, Hanover Township. Attorney Katic explained the statutory process (IC 36-9-27-34, 49) requiring a surveyor’s report, specific plans, cost estimates, and assessment of damages among four affected property owners before a public hearing can be scheduled. The board agreed it was premature to set a hearing at this time.
Key Outcomes
- All motions passed 2-0 (one member absent).
- Invoices for emergency repairs and project maintenance approved.
- MS4 cover crop program funding increased to $20,000 annually.
- Bids for Schoon Ditch Maintenance taken under advisement for award at a future meeting.
- No public hearing set for Hanover Tile; further engineering and assessment needed.
- Next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 9:00 AM (Advisory Committee at 8:00 AM) in the Commissioners Courtroom.
Meeting Transcript
It's supposed to be by Halloween. So it's supposed to be 45th and white over. That way to go north. Let's go. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it says one nation under God. Emergency exit announcement. In case of emergency, exit the commissioner's courtroom and proceed to the stairs and go to the second floor and exit the building. Do not enter an elevator in an emergency. If you require assistance, an employee will escort and or assist you. Please silence any cellular telephones during this meeting. If you receive a call or text during this meeting, please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible. Thank you, sir. Uh with the record show uh Commissioner Tipee and Commissioner Repear in attendance. Uh are there any additions, deletions or there are a couple of corrections, Mr. Chair? Uh in the minutes, item 6A 489. Uh that application was withdrawn, and the minutes say no action. Uh and also on the agenda, I had uh carried over the application 489. Uh so that is it's on there, but there's nothing to be done that was withdrawn at last month's meeting. Those are the only corrections. Okay. No addition. So is there a motion? It's really not a credit, it's a correction of the minutes, right? Correction of the minutes and then removal of item number whatever. Okay. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Second, let the record show the motion carries two. Um is there a motion to grant permission to open bids? So moved. Second, let the records show the motion carries two. Oh uh bids and proposals can be opened. Um, and then the amended minutes uh of the September 14th, 2025 meeting uh for consideration. Motion to approve is amended. I'll second, I'll let the record show the motion carries 201 absent. Okay. Reports item five. Item 5B surveyor Emerson Item 5B1. Uh the Little County Met River Basin Development Commission's uh meeting this evening. Uh their agenda is open to the public again. That's another sound of Monster at their office. Item five C one, the monthly report from Chris Brown regarding the uh crew activity for the last month. Again, if you uh run across anything that needs something, you can tell by the photos. Our guys will go in anywhere to remove those instructions. Just let us know and we'll get it taken care of. Item 5D, current project Silva Caymet River watershed 5D 4. The emergency repair on Turkey Creek Lateral 573rd Avenue. I'd ask for approval of the final invoice to Austin Equipment for $6,257.10 cents. Motion to approve the invoice.
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