The Delaware County Drainage Board discussed maintenance priorities, contractor availability for spraying and debrushing, and plans to solicit bids in early 2026 after the winter lull to secure lower prices.

Surveyor Tom reported that the county had arranged spraying in multiple locations this year but that some areas were inaccessible because of crops. He said the county may have a surplus this year and plans to compile a prioritized list of debrushing and cleaning projects to bid in early spring. "This year we're probably gonna looks like we're gonna have a surplus as of right now, so I'm gonna put together a list of areas that I think need to be debrushed," Tom said.

Board members discussed contractor capacity and licensing. Tom said aquatic spraying requires specialized licenses (category 5 and category 6) and sufficient liability insurance; local firms that used to do the work have largely stopped offering it, and drone sprayers and out-of-county firms present practical limitations. He said he would compile a list of licensed contractors and that the county could issue bid packets in January or February to attract more competitive pricing.

Tom said he would present a spreadsheet summary showing how many feet were sprayed this year, what was sprayed, and the total cost incurred, and an initial set of proposed debrushing locations and aerials for the November meeting. He also noted that stormwater staff had approved roughly $20,000 to repair televising-identified problem spots in the Hickory Lane area so the county’s drainage structures can move water more efficiently before private yard-level fixes are considered.

The board asked the surveyor to return with cost estimates, photographs, and priority rankings for proposed debrushing sites and to produce contractor bid materials early in the year so the county can obtain better pricing.