Benton County Ditch Authority approves contractor quotes to remove obstructions on CD 10 and CD 11
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Summary
Ditch Authority members authorized contractors to remove obstructions on County Ditch 10 (estimated $3,860) and CD 11 (additional ~$1,360), and discussed concurrent beaver removal and the previously ordered repair report for CD 10; board emphasized maintenance can proceed while the formal repair report process continues.
The Benton County Ditch Authority voted to authorize contractors to remove obstructions from County Ditch 10 and County Ditch 11 after staff presented on-site conditions and contractor quotes.
Public Works staff said a one-mile section of CD 10 between 50 and 60 Fifth Street NE was flooded and contained obstructions that standard excavation equipment could not access without specialized flotation machines or matting. Staff solicited multiple quotes: a larger contractor quoted a higher mobilization and hourly rate; a second contractor estimated a smaller, pontoon-mounted mini-excavator could complete CD 10 in about a day and a half at roughly $3,860. Completing CD 11 as well would add approximately $1,360, bringing the combined quote to about $5,225.
Staff and the drainage inspector said beaver dams are also blocking flows; the board agreed beaver trapping should proceed concurrently as trapping and removal of woody blockages are separate costs not covered by the excavation quotes.
Members clarified that a repair report on CD 10 had previously been ordered after a petition and that the repair-report process (engineering, public hearing) remains underway and carries its own costs. Staff and the drainage authority noted maintenance work could proceed in the interim and that landowners could still pursue or retract petitions, but a public hearing on the ordered report would still be required if the process moved forward.
Motion to authorize staff to accept the smaller contractor's quotes for CD 10 (approx. $3,860) and CD 11 (approx. $1,360) passed on a voice vote. The board directed staff to schedule beaver trapping and to return to the authority with any additional ditch-specific maintenance proposals for authorization before spending additional funds on other ditches.