Members of the Marshall County Drainage Board held a public hearing this week to consider a proposed construction project on the Meister Arm of the Bowser Tile at the petition request of Don Meister.
Mr. Meister told the Drainage Board he has been battling water on his property for some time and even with a pumping system he put in 12 years ago he still have to contend with blow outs.
County Surveyor Larry Fisher said the grade of the tile through the Meister Arm is almost flat and greater pressure from upstream causes the blow outs around weak spots in the tile. His suggestion was to reroute the tile into higher ground. The project would require approximately 1700 feet of 15 inch tile at a cost of $22,962.
There are 196 acres in the watershed that use the Meister Arm and the Drainage Board had previously determined they would use a blanket assessment for the project. The estimated cost per acre to those with property in the watershed is $117.12.
During the public hearing Terry and Kim Lemler asked why they should have to pay $3,478 for their acreage. Their property is a forest area and they believe the project will only benefit Mr. Meister by getting the water off his land allowing him to farm more acres.
After a short discussion the County Drainage Board approved the proposed project with a blanket assessment.
