SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Minnehaha County does not currently have a drainage ordinance in place and it's possible that it may never have one again.
The county commission last week repealed its drainage ordinance and held a public hearing today over a very scaled back replacement.
County Planner Scott Anderson says the proposed ordinance spells out six drainage conditions that would require landowners to notify downstream property owners of the work by certified mail. Anderson said he worked with the state's attorney's office to draft the new ordinance.
However, Anderson did tell the commission that in his opinion he doesn't feel the county should pass any new ordinance. He says the issue should be a fair market, or just a private landowner issue. He supports allowing landowners to work out drainage issues amongst themselves and that the county get completely out of the drainage business.
Landowner Chet Hofer of Hartford says that while he usually wants less government involvement he says there are some vital issues such as drainage that shouldn't be swept under the rug and forgotten about.
The Minnehaha Commission will address the issue again next Tuesday.