Frequently Asked Questions

Drainage districts have been established for the drainage of surface waters from agricultural and other lands for the protection of said lands from overflow when said protection is a public benefits or is conducive to public health, convenience, and welfare (Section 468.2, State Code of Iowa).

Drainage districts are established by the Drainage District Trustees at the request of the land owners within the proposed district (Section 468.6-468.8). 

Assessments are made necessary to pay for engineering costs, improvements, and repairs within a given drainage district.

Assessments or classification of land in a drainage district is based on the benefit that land is seen to receive from being in the district. The original assessed value of any parcel of land within a district was set when that district was established and is the basis for all assessments unless the district is reclassified by the trustees (Section 468.49).

Under the Code of Iowa, Chapter 468, the County Board of Supervisors act as a Drainage District Trustees in all District matters. The land owners of a particular district may, if they wish, elect their own trustees and maintain the district themselves. 

Yes. The trustees are required by the Code of Iowa (Sections 468.126) to maintain all drainage districts at their original capacity. 

No, unless the district is dissolved (Section 468.250-468.261).

Complaints, problems, or questions can be directed to the drainage clerks in the Auditor's Office or to the drainage district trustees. 

Property owners within a district pay for all it's maintenance and repairs. These repairs are completed by an independent contractor hired by the trustees and bill the cost to the district. Members of the district pay based on the proportion of the original assessed value of their property to the original assessed value of the entire district. 

Assessments are computed as a percentage of the original assessment which is based on the benefit that a property is seen to receive by being inside the district. 

Drainage districts are not levied on a regular basis. When a district is levied the trustees set the percentage such that a surplus remains after all bills are paid. The district will not be levied again until it's funds are depleted. To find out when your district was last levied, please contact the drainage clerk. 

To add or remove someone from your deed following a marriage, divorce, death, etc., we recommend contacting an attorney or abstract/title search company to have the proper documentation drawn up and recorded.  The Auditor’s office can no longer prepare a quit claim deed ourselves.

Contact an abstract/title search company to have one prepared.

A split or combination of lots or parcels of land must be approved by the necessary planning department.  If you live in the county (outside of any city limit) you should start the process with the county planning department.  If you live inside a city’s boundaries, contact your city’s planning department to sign off first.