Blackford County Drainage Board Reports Tariff-Driven Tile Cost Increases, Ongoing Projects

From the Blackford County Drainage Board meeting on May 4, 2026

County Surveyor Paul Shriever reported that drainage tile prices have increased 15 to 20 percent due to tariffs and petroleum costs, with manufacturers "not working any overtime at the tile plants."

Despite cost pressures, multiple tile projects are moving forward. Completed work includes the SR26/Road 800 intersection and Hudson Williams Chrome 2 at 150 South. Projects in progress include the Panhandle tile across Road 600 and work at 100 North/500 East, which is progressing slowly due to wet underground conditions.

Planned ditch dipping includes Melvin Weaver (two miles of open ditch) and Johnson Prong (four miles at 200 North Tennessee). The next tiling project, Christy Drosski, has already been assessed.

Shriever also reported that state auditors have spent three to four days auditing 2024 and 2025 drainage board records. No findings of wrongdoing have been reported.

On the retention pond project, the National Guard contact was replaced due to typical rotation, but all principals have reconnected. The design has been scaled back to six feet deep for the retention portion and 20 feet for the rest, on the same footprint. Funding is still pending.

Several of these projects follow the Big Lick Ditch project, which ballooned to $1 million after federal permitting delays.

Source: YouTube transcript — Blackford County Drainage Board Meeting, May 4, 2026

Some information may be inaccurate due to video audio quality.