OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County Drainage Board Meeting - June 17, 2026

County Boards & Commissions — Wednesday, June 17, 2026
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateWednesday, June 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

That's a good one.

0:00

I always have to do that.

0:02

You know, some of them are double.

0:04

What do you think of it?

0:10

Welcome to the club.

0:11

Well, I love it.

0:12

You hand it to me your first time.

0:14

Yeah.

0:22

I could ask you.

0:24

What makes you think I can get someone?

0:31

He doesn't know he's here anyway.

0:34

Are we ready?

0:37

Please stand for the leader.

0:42

I plan to change to the flag of the United States of America.

1:01

Emergency exit announcement.

1:10

Sorry, that was all you don't have one?

1:15

You forgot yourself.

1:31

In case of emergency, exit the commissioners for a room and proceed to the stairs and go to the second floor and exit the bedroom.

1:37

Do not enter an elevator in an emergency.

1:40

If you require assistance, an employee will store name or assist you.

1:44

Please silence any sound or telephones during this meeting.

1:47

If you receive a call text service, meeting please excuse yourself with the room construction as possible.

1:53

Okay, roll call.

1:59

Here Cedar Creek Township Ellis Wall.

2:04

Senate Township David Hubinger.

2:06

Here Eagle Creek Township John Jurst.

2:10

Here.

2:11

Hanover Township and I choose it?

2:14

Here.

2:14

Over Township Mike Hannigan.

2:16

Present.

2:17

North Township David Medina?

2:19

Here.

2:20

Lost Township at T Equal Austin?

2:22

Here.

2:23

St.

2:23

John Township Jeffrey.

2:25

Here.

2:26

West Creek Township High Wall?

2:28

Here.

2:28

Winfield Township Cody Reynolds.

2:32

There are nine present and two non-present.

2:35

We do have a four.

2:37

The agenda since we've had another packet handed out and stuff I said.

2:41

I guess we do have uh a few additions.

2:45

Sylvia.

2:47

Winfield Township.

2:51

Here.

2:52

It's here.

2:54

Cody Reynolds is here.

2:56

All right.

3:03

I think you can know what it is.

3:09

I can go.

3:10

10 of 11.

3:10

That's the same thing.

3:12

Alright, Mr.

3:12

Chair, we have nine handouts and I apologize, but most of them are just review letters of some invoices and stuff.

3:18

But uh 5B8 is a drain corded uh uh previous application extension 5C5 the surveyor's report for the uh Hanover tile 5D 3 uh BERC review of an invoice or change order 5D four uh burke reviews of two uh change orders six a uh five eighteen application for NIPSCO and six A519 and application for shilling development 7A1 a BERC review uh for uh change orders and 9A1 plans for the Spring Street Ditch cover replacement in Highlands that's all the additions are all the additions I have no deletions corrections instead and so I I see we have a hearing today at nine o'clock yes that's uh for the uh mutual drain drain and yes that's at 9 a.m.

4:32

Okay.

5:00

David, no reports.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████████████████████████████████45%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████████████14%
Public Engagement██████████████14%
Licensing And Permits████████████12%
Procedural█████████9%
Environmental Protection███3%
Public Safety███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Drainage Board Meeting - June 17, 2026

The Lake County Drainage Board met on June 17, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting opened with a roll call showing 10 of 11 township trustees present. The board reviewed routine agenda items, heard public comments, and addressed several maintenance projects and applications. A significant portion of the meeting focused on storm damage from recent tornadoes.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved multiple routine invoices and change orders for various drain maintenance projects, including items 5B1-5B5, 5C1-5C5, 5D3-5D5, 5E2, 6A5-6A6, 7A1, 8A, and 9A1. All motions carried unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Terry Willie (111 88 State Street, Winfield) spoke about ongoing drainage issues in the Winfield area related to the Draper Ditch. He praised past work by staff but noted recent ponding on a neighbor's field after the town of Winfield permitted a house. He requested the board investigate the drainage problems affecting Mr. Sapper and Mr. Fox.
  • Mike Haschick (1432 West 185th Avenue, Lowell) reported that heavy rains and rising water in West Creek Lateral 4 caused his culverts to collapse and damaged his private driveway. He asked for financial or labor assistance from the county. Staff explained that lateral is not a regulated drain, limiting county authority, but offered to review sizing and help with design.

Discussion Items

  • Storm Damage Update: Staff reported significant damage from recent tornadoes, especially in Merrillville. Trees, donation boxes, and light poles were thrown into ditches. Emergency contractors were hired to clear Lateral 7 near Dollar General. Staff urged affected residents to call 211 for assistance.
  • Hanover Ditch Reconstruction (5C5): Surveyor Emerson presented a report on the Hanover tile project. IDEM and Army Corps agreed no wetland permits are needed due to return to agricultural use, reducing project cost by at least $4.5 million. The board voted to set a public hearing for the August Drainage Board meeting.
  • Schoon Ditch Maintenance (5D4): Staff recommended partial payments for Pay App 2 ($305,301.98) and Pay App 3 (reduced retainage of $44,564.25) due to incomplete work. The board approved the recommended amounts.
  • Beaverdam Lateral 14 (5D5): Change orders totaling $71,135.18 were approved for additional materials and spoil haul-off at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
  • Multiple NIPSCO Utility Applications (6A5-6A8): Several applications from NIPSCO for pole replacements and utility work were approved with minimal or no conditions.
  • Spring Street Ditch Cover Replacement (9A1): The board approved plans and authorized advertising for bids, with the project to use corrugated metal pipe (CMP).

Key Outcomes

  • Approved setting the Hanover Ditch Reconstruction for a public hearing in August.
  • Approved a series of change orders and payments for ongoing maintenance projects (items 5D3, 5D4, 5D5, 5E2, 7A1).
  • Approved applications 510, 511, 512, 513, 514, 515, 517, 518 with associated conditions.
  • Accepted the easement agreement for fill removal at 11624 Woodmark Place (7A4).
  • Approved $400 payments for wildlife removal in two watersheds (8A).
  • Next regular meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

That's a good one. I always have to do that. You know, some of them are double. What do you think of it? Welcome to the club. Well, I love it. You hand it to me your first time. Yeah. I could ask you. What makes you think I can get someone? He doesn't know he's here anyway. Are we ready? Please stand for the leader. I plan to change to the flag of the United States of America. Emergency exit announcement. Sorry, that was all you don't have one? You forgot yourself. In case of emergency, exit the commissioners for a room and proceed to the stairs and go to the second floor and exit the bedroom. Do not enter an elevator in an emergency. If you require assistance, an employee will store name or assist you. Please silence any sound or telephones during this meeting. If you receive a call text service, meeting please excuse yourself with the room construction as possible. Okay, roll call. Here Cedar Creek Township Ellis Wall. Senate Township David Hubinger. Here Eagle Creek Township John Jurst. Here. Hanover Township and I choose it? Here. Over Township Mike Hannigan. Present. North Township David Medina? Here. Lost Township at T Equal Austin? Here. St. John Township Jeffrey. Here. West Creek Township High Wall? Here. Winfield Township Cody Reynolds. There are nine present and two non-present. We do have a four. The agenda since we've had another packet handed out and stuff I said. I guess we do have uh a few additions. Sylvia. Winfield Township. Here. It's here. Cody Reynolds is here.

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