Board moves DD20 South Main improvement toward bid letting after technical hearing

The Kossuth County Board continued a public hearing on Drainage District 20 South Main improvements and heard detailed engineering analysis of outlet elevations, recent high water readings and possible project options.

The district engineer told the board Union Slough gauge data showed unusually high water during recent months and that under more typical conditions the outlet performance would be closer to 0.91 inches per day instead of the 0.63 measured during peak events. The engineer said upsizing the outlet pipe to 42‑ and 48‑inch sections would bring the system near a 1.0 in/day coefficient under the measured conditions and recommended retrofitting or replacing the junction box if the district wants greater future capacity.

An objection letter from landowner Michael P. Gochee (ownership clarification) was read into the record. Board members and landowners discussed cost tradeoffs: a small outlet retrofit could be relatively inexpensive, but installing a new precast junction box and upsized pipe could materially raise the estimate, especially if future federal or NRCS wetlands determinations require mitigation.

The board voted to direct staff to send wetland‑determination notice letters to affected landowners and to proceed to a public bid letting for the amended plan. Members emphasized that bids would be received and reviewed but not awarded until landowner notification and any NRCS determinations or required design changes were resolved.