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County Board pushes Ditch 25 decision again [UPDATED]
Published 7:15am Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Updated 12:19pm Wednesday, July 11, 2012A decision regarding the proposed use of Ditch 25 as a drainage system for landlocked Little McDonald Lake near Perham was once again pushed back by the Otter Tail County Board on Tuesday.
The water level on Little McDonald lake has been steadily rising over the years, and high water has become a big problem for some residents. Talk of using Ditch 25 as a drainage system reached the county board more than a year ago, but uncertainty and delays have continuously pushed off any firm decisions.
“This is a tough issue,” said Huebsch. “When you have problems as big as these, the solutions are hard, and they’re tough, and they take time.”
A committee made up of a limited number of lake representatives will meet to discuss some of the final details of the plan to try to answer several questions including: Does the ditch have the capacity to drain the lake? Should it be used as an outlet for lake users? What maintenance will be required? How will the downstream lakes be affected?
The committee said they hope to come up with a suggested solution to bring to the board at its regularily scheduled meeting on July 24.
“We’re trying to be as fair as we can, but that takes time,” said commissioner John Lindquist.
