The Starke County Commissioners have agreed to wait until after next week’s park board meeting to make a decision about drainage issues in the Starke County Forest. Continued beaver dam activity along the Anderson Ditch is causing drainage problems for neighboring landowners. Several sent a petition to Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok and to the DNR requesting a solution to the problem. Continue reading
Starke County Forest Dam Discussion Continues This Evening
The discussion of how to handle drainage issues caused by beavers in the Starke County Forest will continue during tonight’s county commissioners meeting. Surveyor Dennis Estok and representatives from Walkerton-based Territorial Engineering will present a proposal to the commissioners during their 6 p.m. session. The Drainage Board decided earlier this year to open a drainage point in the Starke County Forest. A beaver dam is causing neighboring land to flood. The Starke County Park Board, which oversees the forest, has since stepped in and asked that a long-term solution be found to the problem. Continue reading
Yellow River Logjam Removal Project Now Underway
The Yellow River logjam removal project has finally begun.
Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok said trees will be removed from the river beginning at the U.S. 35 bridge in Knox to the Starke – Marshall line.
4-County Drainage Board Lifts Robbins Watershed Assessment Fee
The 4-County Drainage Board has omitted the 2012 general drain maintenance assessment for landowners within the Robbins Watershed.
This will affect landowners in Center, Davis, Oregon and Washington Townships. The change will be reflected on the 2012 tax statement. The Drainage Board will continue to address maintenance on the drain during this year and the Board will review and evaluate the maintenance assessment for 2013.
Yellow River Tree Removal in Progress
The Yellow River tree removal project is moving along. Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok said this week that he is in the process of forming a three-man committee to interview and score the various engineering proposals.
Estok said he is on track to present contracts for signing by May with work scheduled for this summer and fall. Work cannot be done in April or May as this is the spawning season.
Debris Removal, Sediment Control Planned for Yellow River in Knox
Along with debris clean up along the Yellow River in Knox up to the Marshall County line, Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok said that more work is planned for the Yellow River.
The projects on the drawing board include sediment control along the Yellow River and work on the Yellow River at Wythogan Park. Last summer, a drowning occurred at the U.S. 35 bridge on the Yellow River, and Estok said that area is really dangerous.
Grant Received to do Work on Yellow River
Starke County is the recipient of a grant for debris removal on the Yellow River in the amount of $190,000. The grant money came from the Disaster Recovery Fund.
Starke County Surveyor, Dennis Estok, said there has been no removal of trees or debris in the Yellow River.
“That’s our main concern,” said Estok. “From Highway 35 in Knox going to the Starke/Marshall County line hasn’t been touched. In talking with some of the land owners, I don’t think it’s ever been touched. What we will do with this money, since it was for debris removal, we’re going to take the fallen trees and logs out of the river which will help tremendously.”
Starke County Surveyor to Burn Brush Collected from Storm Sewer Project
Starke County Surveyor, Dennis Estok, appeared before the Knox City Council last week to ask for permission to burn off brush collected from the John Street storm system maintenance project. The County has jurisdiction over about 1,000 feet that drains into the Cavanaugh ditch. Excavating crews are coming in soon to channel that portion to give it a uniform slope to the outlet into the ditch.
Estok said there is brush and debris in the system as well as sediment.
The Council gave its permission to burn the brush. Estok estimated it would be only two small piles.
