Lake County Drainage Board Advisory Committee Meeting - December 17, 2025
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Lake County Drainage Board Advisory Committee Meeting - December 17, 2025
The Lake County Drainage Board Advisory Committee met on December 17, 2025, at 8:00 AM in the Commissioners Courtroom. With only 5 of 11 members present, the committee lacked a quorum and could not take formal votes, but it discussed pending items, heard reports, and prepared recommendations for the full Drainage Board meeting later that morning.
Reports & Correspondence
- Foss Ditch & Foss Ditch Lateral #1 (Center Twp.): Assistant Drainage Administrator Chris Brown reported activity within the 75-foot drainage easement from a subdivision. The developer has not submitted a formal application; the committee will follow up to require one.
- Eagle Creek Township: John Juris noted that Delta 3 Mike began tree removal on Brown Library Ditch #3. He also raised a tile drain issue on Dave Wolf’s farm near 231 and Montgomery, where a landowner halted cleaning. Contact information will be shared to pursue a petition.
- West Creek Township: Heidi Law reported beaver dams between 169th and 185th Avenues; she will note the locations.
- Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission: The commission meeting is that evening; the board successfully secured funding for several projects.
- Kankakee River Watershed: The November 20 Kankakee River Basin & Yellow River Basin Development Commission report and video links were provided. A weekly drought assessment from the Indiana DNR was noted.
- Schoon Ditch (Munster): A 5,000–6,000 foot ditch cleaning project will begin Monday, December 22, with partial road closures. The contractor will work during winter break (Dec 22 – Jan 5) to avoid school traffic, coordinating with the town, school, parks, hospital, and NIPSCO.
- Hanover Ditch: Progress continues on a design to restore drainage to farmland; the board has contacted IDEM and Senator Demeyer for assistance.
Discussion Items
- Main Beaver Dam Ditch – The Gates of St. John (Units 32–40): This 100-acre development in St. John includes 601 single-family and multi-family units, 2.28 miles of roads, and utilities. The applicant (LBL Development, agent McAlpine Consulting) has submitted three ASI reviews. Engineer Jim (from StructurePoint) recommended approval contingent on IDEM construction and floodway permits and FEMA compliance. No action was taken due to lack of quorum.
- Turkey Creek Lateral #5 (New Elliott): Applicant David Kubik installed a temporary path to remove debris from a recently acquired property. The committee is coordinating for removal after weather improves; no action needed.
- McConnell Ditch Lateral B (Cedar Lake): The Town of Cedar Lake (agent Nies Engineering) seeks to install a 36-inch PVC sanitary main. Two CBBEL reviews resulted in a recommendation for approval. No action taken.
- Silt Sock on Agricultural Land: A committee member asked if silt socks could be omitted on farmland where spoil is redistributed. Staff explained that silt socks are required by regulation and must be removed by the contractor after grass establishes; final inspection ensures removal.
MS4 Water Quality
- Juvenile Detention Center Restoration: A mandatory pre-bid meeting was held December 16; all three contractors attended. The project includes installing geo-grid at the entrance and filling an unused pond to restore pervious area. Proposals will be opened at the January 2026 meeting.
- Contract Renewals: The committee will recommend renewing the Assistant Deputy Surveyor contract with DLZ Indiana, LLC, and the professional coordination services contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LLC, both for MS4 and subdivision inspections in unincorporated areas.
Financial
- Little Calumet River Watershed – Sprout Ditch: Recommend payment of $1,200 to Larson Wildlife for beaver relocation and dam removal.
- Kankakee River Watershed – Ernie Niemeyer Creek & Levee: Recommend payment of $600 to Larson Wildlife for similar services.
Contracts & Bids
- 2025 Dyer Ditch Maintenance Phase I (Dyer/Schererville): Bids will be opened at the Drainage Board meeting later that day.
- Engineering Consultant Contracts: The committee will recommend one-year renewals with Christopher B. Burke Engineering (Little Calumet River Watershed) and American Structurepoint Inc. (Kankakee River Watershed).
Proposed 2026 Meeting Schedule
- The schedule has been reviewed with the County Commissioners. The March 2026 meeting will be on the second Wednesday (instead of the third) due to a commissioner conflict. The next meeting is January 21, 2026.
Public Comments
- No members of the public addressed the committee.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken due to lack of quorum. All recommendations will be forwarded to the full Lake County Drainage Board meeting later that morning.
- The contractor for Schoon Ditch is set to begin work December 22, with a January 5 deadline to accommodate school schedules.
- The committee will pursue a formal application for the Foss Ditch development and continue outreach to IDEM for the Hanover Ditch project.
Meeting Transcript
Are we ready? Follow meeting order, please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I believe the United States of America. One nation individual with liberty and justice for all 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 Amber assist to please silence any cellular telephones during this meeting. If you receive a call text during this meeting, please excuse yourself with as little disruption as possible. Roll call. Callumid Township, Miss Cedar Creek Township, Alice Dall. Center Township, David Huginger. Here Eagle Creek Township, John Juris. Here. Hanover Township, Canada. Hulbert Township, Mike Hannegan. North Township, David Medina. Ross Township, Eric Flash. St. John Township, Jeffrey Hewitt. Here. West Creek Township, Heidi Law. Here. Winfield Township, Cody Rennes. There are five present, six not present. We do not have a form. Okay. All right. I'll vote. I'll vote twice if it helps. Perfect. All right. Any additions or deletions to the agenda? No, Mr. Chair. Okay. Oh. All right. None that I know. So the agenda approved then. Um minutes from the last meeting. Yeah, we can't approve them. So let's just move on. Any yeah, any comments on the minutes or anything that seems any additions or deletions that need to be done? They're glued together. If not move it on. I do have a question. Okay. Um in the roll call, I wasn't present last month. This was I was here last month. My name isn't listed.
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