Huntington County Drainage Board
Meeting Date: November 6, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 10:06 a.m. | Place: D.A.R. Room 206
Drainage Board Members: Present (P) - Absent (A)
Matt Gilbert (P), Terry Keiffer (A), Tom Wall (A), Jim Michel (P), Bob Gressley (P)
Surveyor Staff Members in Attendance
Jerry Meehan Jr. - Surveyor; Stacy Wiley - Chief Deputy; Wendi Witt - Business Opoerations Coordinator
Meeting was called to order.
Members of the Board were announced.
Introduction of the Surveyors Staff was announced.
Minutes
Bob Gressley made a motion to approve the 10/16/2025 minutes. Jim Michel seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Discussion of Landowners Concerns
Drain Name: Cut-Off Drain
Landowner: City of Huntington 300 Cherry Street, Huntington, IN 46750
Emily Hayes from the City of Huntington is requesting for the Boards permission to leave the trees that were planted in the Right-of-Way without permission until the Spring. Bob Gressley made a motion to allow trees to stay over winter and to be removed by June 1st, 2026. Matt Gilbert seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Claims
- Board Payroll - $650.00
- Amazon - $47.05
- Amazon - $ 2.35
- Amor Excavating - John Buzzard #1 - $2,205.00
- Carson LLP - DSSMB - $5,723.00
- Amor Excavating - Donald Smith - $1,544.44
- Amor Excavating - Thomas Detamore - $6,051.25
- Amor Excavating - Samuel Gesaman - $1,033.10
- Theobald Farms - Stewart-Hoover-Thrift-Ellis - $1,896.00
- Theobald Farms - Stewart-Hoover-Thrift-Ellis - $184.38
- TW Excavating - Peter Bauer - $197.50
- TW Excavating - Noggle-Hahn - $365.00
- TW Excavating - Samuel Gesaman - $210.00
Bob Gressley made a motion to pay the claims. Jim Michel seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Discussion of Old Business
Drain Name: Siegmund-Herron-Baker
Landowner: Huntington County United Economic, Huntington, IN 46750
Bryn Keplinger, the Director of Community Development, representing the City of Huntington, and the Board discussed future development plans for Riverfork West.
Drain Name: Dustman-Stuart-Sheets-Miller-Bear
Landowner: Town of Roanoke, P.O. Box 328 Roanoke, IN 46783
Jerry Meehan provided photos of the removed obstruction in the drain completed by the Town of Roanoke. He also informed the Board the work was not completed under supervision of the Surveyors Office or damage from the result of the obstruction. The consensus of the Board is to reach out to their attorney for recommendation to complete the work properly.
Drain Name: Lewis Minnear
Landowner: David Faber 792 4th Street NW, Sioux Center, IA 51250
Jerry Meehan notified the Board that after researching the tile location from the original records he doesn’t believe that Beacon is correct; after providing photo evidence the consensus of the Board is to show the tile in the correct location on Beacon. All of the Board members were contacted through email/phone prior to their regular meeting to give approval for Eads and Son Bulldozing to tie onto the tile. This request was granted.
Drain Name: Huffman-Bolinger-Walters
Landowner: Michael Kloer 8705 N 750 W, Huntington, IN 46750
Jerry Meehan provided photos of tile investigation, private structure and tree farm. The consensus of the Board is to invite the neighboring landowner (Chris Line) to the next meeting.
Drain Name: W.C. McPherren
Landowner: Gabriel Ventures 6492 N US 24, Huntington, IN 46750
Clounie Landscaping is requesting to work in the Right-of-Way to place a temporary crossing to move topsoil from one side of the drain to the other. After work is complete the drain will be returned to its original state. Matt Gilbert made a motion to allow. Jim Michel seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Jim Michel stepped off the Board at this time.
Drain Name: Michel-Young
Jerry Meehan provided photos of the tile installation.
Jim Michel stepped back on the Board at this time.
Drain Name: Palmer-McPherson
Landowner: Rick Brubaker 2344 E 1000 S, Warren IN, 46792
Jerry Meehan provided photos of the completed rock chute.
The consensus of the Board is to allow rip-rap from Rock Creek.
Discussion of New Business
Drain Name: Stewart-Hoover-Thrift-Ellis
Landowner: Eric Cobbs 572 W 450 S, Warren IN, 46792
Jerry Meehan provided photos of Cobbs field and sediment at headwall. Jay Theobald quote to repair the tile across the Cobbs property is $12,769.00. Matt Gilbert made a motion to accept the quote with a not to exceed $15,000.00 for any unforeseen complications and under the supervision of the Surveyors Office. Jim Michel seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Drain Name: William Eickenberry
Fox Construction is requesting to work in the Right-of-Way to remove sandbars for the installation of a culvert liner under I-69. Bob Gressley made a motion to allow. Jim Michel seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0.
Drain Name: Vendrick-Slusser-Altman
Landowner: David Stoffel 6864 N 200 W, Huntington IN, 46750
Jerry Meehan informed the Board that David Stoffel inquired about his petition to vacate the branch on his property. All the landowners affected have signed the petition. The consensus of the Board is to schedule the public hearing for December 18, 2025.
Drain Name: Jacob Casper
Landowner: Vince Lahr 5284 N Clear Creek Rd, Huntington, IN 46750
Jerry Meehan updated the Board about the Tort Claim filed by Vince Lahr.
Discussion of Drainage Board Member's Concerns
Jim Michel informed the Board that he will not be here for the December 18th meeting.
Landowner Allan Bowers inquired about the discussion at Riverfork West.
Field Trip
No field trip was taken.
The meeting concluded at this time.