FAQs

Land within a drainage district is not limited to farming.  Land uses that benefit from the drainage district include:

1. Agriculture production.
2. Wildlife habitat on federal, state and local lands.
3. Housing developments.
4. Other development, including roads, and sanitary district treatment plants.
5. An outlet for stormwater runoff from municipalities.

The Board meets publicly at least on an annual basis usually in October to discuss the on-going maintenance issues of the ditch which can include grass cutting, weed and tree cutting, dredging and culvert/bridge replacement. Based on the projects approved, the Board will make a determination of whether an assessment is needed to pay for these projects. The Board will have special meetings if needed and all meeting notices are posted publicly prior to the meeting. See the Board minutes on the menu.

On an annual basis, the district performs an inspection of the district drains and district corridors to determine the following:

1. Are the district drains and corridors being maintained?
2. Are landowners complying with applicable requirements?
3. Has sedimentation occurred?
4. Have the cross-sections or grade profiles of the district drains changed significantly?
5. Should any drains be restored, altered or improved to ensure proper drainage, to reduce soil erosion or sedimentation problems to provide for effective operation.?

The district will also inspect the drainage drains after major storms to determine the nature and extent of any storm damage and to determine whether repairs are necessary. 

Landowners must do the following:

1. Allow access to district ditches and drainage corridors for inspection and maintenance.
2. Implement necessary erosion control practices. 
3. Comply with lawful orders of the county drainage board.
4. Pay cost assessments.
5. Notify the board of any proposed activity that may affect a district drain in any way. 

All landowners are required to notify the county board of any proposed activity that affect the drainage in any way.  This applies to any landowner, including village, county, state, individual or business, who owns land that receives water from or discharges water to, whether or not the land is included int he drainage district.

The landowner should provide written notification describing the proposed action.  The board will review the proposal at a regular board meeting.  The notification may require approval from other authorities.

Examples of activities that require landowners to prior notification:

1. Making land use changes.
2. Altering the flow of water into or from the district drain.
3. Cleaning, extending, enlarging, connecting or disconnecting a private drainage ditch.
4. Installation or removal of private dams.
5. Withdrawing water from or manipulating water levels of a district drain. 
6. Removing a spoil pile.
7. Placing a structure or obstruction in a district drain.

A landowner, with land within the drainage district, may petition the county drainage board to remove the land from the district if ALL of the following apply:

1. All benefits assessed against the lands have been paid.
2. The land receives no benefit from the drainage district.
3. The district will not be materially injured by the removal of the land.

The county drainage board will schedule a public hearing on the petition and determine if the conditions are satisfied.  The petitioner may be required to pay for the hearing expenses. 

When assessments are not paid within the payment terms outlined on the assessment, the Board is allowed by state statutes to certify the unpaid assessments.  This gives the Board the authority to have the respective County treasurers add the unpaid assessments with interest to the property tax bills of the tax parcel.  

If a member were to short pay their property taxes, it would be a short pay of the property taxes rather than nonpayment of the assessment.  The State order rules say that payments are applied against any unpaid assessment first.  You can refer to your county on the consequences of nonpayment of property taxes. 

Currently, the Village of Belgium prefers not to include the assessment on the water utility bill.  

The current district is a combination of two districts Belgium-Holland Drainage District No. 1 and No. 2.  The districts were consolidated on April 19, 2022.

Belgium-Holland Drainage District No. 1 was organized on January 22, 1912.  

Belgium-Holland Drainage District No. 2 was established in 1921.

The Drainage District is governed by a board according to the Wisconsin State Statutes. 

State statutes provide extensive authority and responsibilities to the drainage board. 

The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is responsible for monitoring the board and compliance with Wisconsin Administrative Code.  DATCP also provides certain technical advice and assistance.