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Kuhn Drain, west of Blaine Street, North Webster, needs to be cleaned, but property owners along the part of the drain that needs cleaning most have made it difficult.
Storage sheds, fences, dog houses and trees obstruct access to the area.
J.D. Geiger, property owner west of Ind. 13, North Webster, asked the Kosciusko County Drainage Board to pay for the cleaning or cost share it with property owners. Geiger told County Surveyor Richard Kemper he does not mind losing a few trees to get the work completed.
The drain, 1,000 feet north of CR 650N, collects less than $4,000 a year and is already in debt. Work further down the drain will cost $2,000 to $3,000.
The Drainage Board voted to have the maintenance completed, but landowners will have to deal with the spoil at their cost as well as dispose of trees and brush. Removing and replacing all obstructions also will be left up to Kuhn Drain property owners.
Kemper will coordinate with property owners and gather feedback.
Everett Rookstool, Oswego Road, Warsaw, asked the board to give him a variance to keep a new home 35 feet from Cy Long Drain. Minimum standards are usually 75 feet, but his residence was at 35 feet for many years.
He said the old house was recently torn down and he plans to put in a new residence. He cannot put the new residence in without a variance allowing him to maintain the 35-foot distance.
"Its just been there all these years and it's been worked around," said Kemper. He said granting the variance is not a problem. The board unanimously approved.
Dan Ransbottom and two other property owners asked the board to convert a mutual drain into a county drain. The drain is located between county roads 600S and 700S, a half-mile east of County Farm Road, south of Warsaw. Property owners funded new tile for the drain.
"They did it the size we wanted it, the way we wanted it and I have no problem with it," Kemper said.
The board unanimously approved making the new tile a county regulated arm of the Walnut Creek Drain.
