The Blue Earth County Board, on Tuesday, tabled more discussion and a decision on a ditch improvement project near Mapleton.
The Ditch 35 project has been studied and debated for more than two years as engineers, environmental groups, the Department of Natural Resources, residents and farmers debate over whether more mitigation efforts should be used to slow the flow of water to the Minnesota River.
The board held a public hearing a couple of weeks ago, but extended it to Tuesday’s meeting because some farmers in the project area objected to plans to abandon a section of tile that engineers said wouldn’t be needed after the ditch and tile system are upgraded.
Engineers have been trying to find solutions for the landowners who don’t want the tile line abandoned, but that process will require more notifications be sent to landowners and other work done that will delay a decision.