Lebanon/Frankfort, Ind. — Landowners across the Charles McClamrock and Sims Rogers watersheds in Clinton and Boone counties could see their drainage assessments triple or nearly quadruple under rate increases the newly organized joint drainage boards voted this week to advertise ahead of public hearings scheduled for Nov. 17.
The votes came as both boards — newly formed joint bodies spanning Clinton and Boone counties — held their organizational meetings, seating a fifth member, electing officers and setting compensation before turning to the assessment increases, which board members said are needed to keep pace with maintenance costs on aging drainage systems that in some cases date back more than a century.
New Boards Organized, Officers Elected
Both boards voted to add Tipton County Surveyor Jason Henderson as their fifth member. “I look forward to serving on this esteemed board,” Henderson said after the vote.
Members then elected Bert Weaver as president of both boards, Doug Everett as vice president and Zach Light as secretary. Tom Little was appointed attorney for both boards. “I also will look forward to this esteemed board, and hopefully I can do everybody justice,” Weaver said after his election.
Dan Sheets, Clinton County Surveyor, told colleagues that Tom Little, who serves as the drainage board’s attorney, was recently elected to serve as a judge beginning next year, meaning the boards will need to appoint a replacement attorney. “Mr. Little was recently elected to serve as judge next year, so we will be appointing a new attorney at the beginning of next year,” Sheets said.
Board members also set compensation at $75 per meeting, to be paid from the watershed account, following a model similar to Boone County’s existing drainage board.
Charles McClamrock Assessment Could Triple
For the Charles McClamrock watershed, the board voted to advertise raising the per-acre assessment from $1 per acre with a $5 minimum to $3 per acre with a $20 minimum. Board officials said the watershed’s current account balance stands at $3,457, while the existing assessment brings in roughly $6,349 annually against average yearly maintenance costs of about $6,937 since 2020. A public hearing on the increase is set for 10:15 a.m. Nov. 17, ahead of the board’s regular monthly meeting.
Officials said opposition to such increases typically comes from residential landowners rather than farmers. “It’s been my experience that the producers understand the importance of drainage and understand that these tiles are 100 years old and require maintenance constantly,” Light said, noting that homeowners are often the ones who don’t realize their private pipes connect to the larger legal drain system.
Sims Rogers Rate Increase Even Steeper
The Sims Rogers watershed board voted to advertise a larger increase, from $2 per acre with a $10 minimum to $7.50 per acre with a $50 minimum. Officials said the watershed, which covers 2,124 acres and about 25,000 feet of drain across both counties, is running a significant deficit after major tile repairs, and the higher rate would bring in an estimated $16,958 annually compared with roughly $4,118 under the current rate. A hearing on that increase is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. Nov. 17, following the McClamrock hearing; officials estimated more than 600 parcels, including most of the town of Kirklin, fall within the watershed.
Board members also discussed asking that the statutory cap allowing an elevated assessment to remain in place be extended from four times the annual assessment balance to eight times, giving the board more flexibility before the rate must automatically be reduced.
Kirklin Stormwater Plan, Future Meetings
Board members said they are exploring a separate sub-watershed assessment tied to a planned municipal storm drain system for the town of Kirklin, which is pursuing a grant to address stormwater infiltration into its sewer system — a project officials said would eventually reduce the McClamrock watershed’s footprint within town limits.
The boards agreed to meet roughly twice a year going forward, with specific dates to be proposed at the November hearing.