Drainage Board - Surveyor - Wells County Indiana

WELLS COUNTY surveyor

102 W Market St
Suite 102
Bluffton, IN 46714

Mon-Fri: 8AM-4:30PM

(260) 824-6414

(260) 827-0809

surveyor@wellscounty.org

Jarrod M. Hahn, CFMCounty Surveyor (5th Term)

2010 County Surveyor President’s Award
2011 Outstanding Surveyor of the Year
2023-2024 President of Indiana County Surveyors Association
2024 Legislative Committee Member for Indiana Society of Professional Land Surveyors and the Association of Indiana Counties.

Diana CollinsDeputy Surveyor

Surveyor home Drainage Board Report Drain Repairs

Drain Information cornerstone

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Current Agenda

Board Members

Meeting Dates and Times

Projects and Hearings

Meeting Minutes

Petitions and Easement

Drain Collections Current

Wells County Drainage Board

The Wells County Drainage Board was formed on January 3,1966 under Indiana Code 36-9-27 and it’s subsections are the guidelines that the Board follows to carry out it’s duties.

The Drainage Board manages the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of all regulated drains or proposed regulated drains in the county as required by State Law. The Board and Surveyor have jurisdiction over regulated drains. Regulated drains are drains that have been established by either the Commissioners Court or Circuit Court of each county prior to 1965 or the Drainage Board since 1966. These drains are open ditches or tile drains or a combination of both.

Current Agenda

Drainage Bd Agenda April 15, 2024

Board Members

Blake Gerber, Chairman
260-824-1964 e-mail: blake.gerber@wellscounty.org

Michael K. Vanover, Vice-Chairman
260-307-1142 email: michael.vanover@wellscounty.org

Jeff Stringer, Member
270-577-1338 email: jeff.stringer@wellscounty.org

Jarrod M. Hahn, Surveyor
260-341-2960 email: surveyor@wellscounty.org

Drainage Board Appointed Positions:
Corey McKinney PS, Interim County Engineer
Theodore Storer, County Attorney
Diana Collins, Drainage Board Secretary

THE BOARD MEETS ON THE 1ST AND 3RD MONDAY OF EACH MONTH AT 4:30 P.M. (EXCEPT AS NOTED) IN THE COMMISSIONER’S ROOM, 223 W WASHINGTON ST, IN THE ANNEX BUILDING, MULTIPURPOSE ROOM 105 , BLUFFTON, INDIANA 46714.

The meetings are open to the public, and the public is encouraged to attend.

Meeting Dates and Times

To be on the Wells County Drainage Board’s Agenda, the request should be submitted to the Surveyor’s Office no later than three working days before the scheduled meeting.

Meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 4:30 P.M. (except as noted) in the Commissioner’s Room, Wells Carnegie Government Annex 223 West Washington St., Multi Purpose Room 105 (lower level) Bluffton, IN 46714

2024 Wells County Drainage Board Dates and Times Schedule

NOTE: “MEETINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE”
To verify: You may call the Surveyor’s Office 260-824-6414 or call one of the Drainage Board Members

Projects and Hearings

Please Call the Surveyor’s Office at 260-824-6414

Meeting Minutes

Official Minutes of all Drainage Board meetings are kept in our office and are available to copy at any time during Monday thru Friday 8:00-4:30 Phone: 260-824-6414

Petitions and Easement

To obtain any Petition or Easement, you need to speak with the Wells County Surveyor (260) 824-6414

We accept cash or check, no credit or debit cards, sorry for the inconvenience.

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-27-54

Drainage Code: 36-9-27-54
Cause: Gives landowners the ability to petition to Create New Drains by 10% of the affected landowners in the drainage watershed.
Ordinance Fee: NO
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-27-52

Drainage Code: 36-9-27-52
Cause: Gives all landowners the ability to petition to Reconstruct Drains by 10% of the affected landowners in the drainage watershed.
Ordinance Fee: NO
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-37-18

Drainage Code: 36-9-37-18
Cause: Gives all affected landowners the ability to petition for a Mutual Drain be a Regulated Drain.
Ordinance Fee: NO
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-27-19

Drainage Code: 36-9-27-19
Cause: Gives one affected landowner the ability to petition for a Mutual Drain be a Regulated Drain.
Ordinance Fee: NO
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-27-37

Drainage Code: 36-9-27-37
Cause: Gives landowners the ability to petition for a Regulated Drain be Vacated by all landowners involved.
Ordinance Fee: NO
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-27.4

Drainage Code: 36-9-27.4
Cause: Gives landowners the ability to petition for a “Remove Obstruction in a Mutual Drain or in Natural Surface Water Course”.
Ordinance Fee: $750
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-28.7

Drainage Code: 36-9-28.7
Cause: Gives landowners the ability to file a request asking the unit of government to investigate the storm water nuisance.
Ordinance Fee: $50
Petition: NO
Easement Board Approval: NO

DRAINAGE CODE: 36-9-27-33

Drainage Code: 36-9-27-33
Cause: Provides landowners permission to place a permanent structure in the 75 foot drainage easement.
Ordinance Fee: $50
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: YES

DRAINAGE CODE: IC 7.1-3-4-3

Drainage Code: IC 7.1-3-4-3
Cause: The Indiana Alcoholic Beverage Commission requires a state form to be signed by the Surveyor to verify the Business Location for ABC permits.
Ordinance Fee: $100
Petition: YES
Easement Board Approval: NO

Drainage Law Indiana Code 36-9-27

Drainage Board/Surveyor Ordinance Fee Schedule-2023

Typical Petition Process

Landowner needs to speak to the County Surveyor before any petitions are filed. (not all projects require a petition)
Petition is given to get signatures, The Wells County Drainage Board recommends at least 50% of signatures on the Petition
Drainage Board will set up a time and place for a hearing
After Petition is filed with the County Surveyor, Surveyor will investigate and file a written report with the Drainage Board
Engineer will draw up plans with most benefit, the best and cheapest cost
Notice of Hearing to inform all affected landowners
Hearing informs public of plans, project details, cost and landowners testimony
If approved by Drainage Board, Judicial Review period, then approval conclusive
If not approved by Drainage Board, revisions can be made

Drain Collections Current

2024 Watershed Certified for Collection

Surveyor

2024 Minutes

2023 Minutes

2022 Minutes

2021 Minutes

2020 Minutes

2019 Minutes