Stormwater board outlines community-focused education event, feature tour of Brinkley RV project set for Feb. 25–26

Elkhart County’s Stormwater Management Board heard a presentation Nov. 24 about a community-based stormwater education event planned for Feb. 25–26.

Todd Clark of the Elkhart County SWCD said the program was shaped by a Nov. 4 focus group of 34 professionals and will emphasize hands-on demonstrations previously offered outside while adapting those demonstrations to an indoor venue at the ECCC. Clark described a feature presentation on the Brinkley RV project and said participants would be taken by bus to view how such projects move from concept to completion.

Clark said the event will be free to attendees and that organizers are working to post online registration “in the next week or 2, probably right after Thanksgiving.” He described the tentative schedule: start at 8 a.m. Wednesday and run to 4 p.m.; Thursday will include an earlier inspector-training option at 7 a.m. and a feature visit that should end by roughly 3:30 p.m. Clark said staff have coordinated with Brinkley RV to provide indoor options if weather prevents outdoor demonstrations.

Board members asked whether February weather would limit demonstrations and how the event would reach small businesses and project managers; Clark said staff have worked with businesses and can assist local owners preparing stormwater protection plans, citing a recent example where county staff helped an owner prepare a compliant plan.

What it means: The event is intended as practical training and outreach to a mix of agriculture, construction and municipal professionals; it aims to improve knowledge of stormwater best practices and regulatory expectations.

Next steps: Staff will finalize registration and logistics and update the board when the registration site is live.