SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Minnehaha County essentially got out of drainage disputes today by not adopting a watered down ordinance and leaving the issue to landowners and possibly civil action.
Weeks ago the County Commission repealed the drainage ordinance and, along with it, the county's drainage board.
The Commission today, for lack of a motion, did not adopt a new, slimmer ordinance essentially leaving disputes in the hands of landowners.
Commissioner Cindy Heiberger says the county has been through the ringer in drainage disputes. She says there haven't been that many people that have had problems but when they do it costs the county a lot of money, "which is other people's money and I don't think it's a good use of our taxpayer's dollars."
Heiberger also said "Civil court is local" to which Commission Chairman Gerald Beninga responded "It is, but it's also expensive and we're paying for that too."
There are federal and state regulations that control some aspects of drainage. The repeal of the county's drainage ordinance takes effect Tuesday, May 30th.