Starke County Government Building 53 East Mound Street Knox, IN 46534
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 4 PM CST
Background
As your County Surveyor, I bring 18 years of experience working within the Starke County Government. My primary objective is to maintain and protect 640 miles of waterways in Starke County. This involves overseeing the proper management of drainage systems, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and working closely with local agencies and landowners to address any concerns related to waterway maintenance and conservation. My role is crucial in preserving the integrity of our waterways, which supports agriculture, minimizes flooding risks, and promotes environmental sustainability for the benefit of all residents.
My extensive training and certifications include being a Certified Hoosier Riverwatch Stream Monitor and Instructor, and a recipient of a Hoosier Riverwatch water monitoring equipment grant. I have also participated in numerous professional development programs, such as the Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference and Stormwater Drainage Conference, both of which I attended through scholarships. My qualifications are further enhanced by advanced training in GIS, participation in several drainage and legislative conferences, and certification from Stormwater One. I am also a State of Indiana Notary Public, demonstrating a broad commitment to service and professional standards.
Name: Sara Dingman
Position: Deputy Surveyor
Background
Sara Dingman has been a dedicated employee of Starke County Government for a total of nine years. She began her career as a part-time employee, gaining experience in both the Treasurer’s Office and the Recorder’s Office. Over the years, she transitioned into a full-time role within the Auditor’s Office, where she served as Deputy Auditor. Before joining the Surveyor’s Office, Sara also held the position of Human Resource Administrator/Payroll Clerk.
Sara is a tremendous asset to Starke County Government. She brings a strong work ethic, professionalism, and a deep understanding of county policies and procedures. Her experience with the computer programs used in the Surveyor’s Office further enhances her ability to perform her duties effectively and efficiently. We are grateful to have Sara as part of our team!
Please note: The County Surveyor does not survey property.
We do not settle boundary disputes.
Surveyor Functions
Please click on each topic to find the primary functions of the Starke County Surveyor’s Office:
Supervise the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of the regulated drains
Regulated Drains are open ditches, tiled drains, and urban drains that serve agricultural, residential, and commercial development under the jurisdiction of the Starke County Drainage Board. The County Surveyor oversees the maintenance of these drains by fixing broken tiles, removing obstructions, brushing and dredging open ditches, and removing beaver dams. There are 640 miles of regulated drains in the County.
Section Corner Perpetuation
The County Surveyor must keep and maintain a corner record book showing original government section corners. The Surveyor must check, locate, establish, and reference at least 5% of all original corners shown in the corner record book each year.
County Drainage Board
The County Surveyor is an ex-officio and non-voting member of the County Drainage Board. The Surveyor is the technical authority on regulated drains, develops maintenance priority lists, and responds to public requests for information related to the Drainage Board.
Serves on the Technical Committee for the Area Plan Commission
The Surveyor is a voting member of the committee to review drainage, floodplain, plat compliance, and erosion control issues on residential subdivisions, commercial sites, and building permits.
Certification to Alcoholic Beverage Commission
The County Surveyor certifies permit locations within unincorporated areas of the county to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Private/Natural Drains
The County Surveyor, through the Drainage Board, reviews complaints regarding obstructions within private and natural drains. When ordered, the Surveyor oversees the removal of any obstruction to restore proper drainage.
Benchmarks
The County Surveyor’s Office keeps a record of all benchmarks in the county with elevations and descriptions, including those that have been destroyed. New benchmarks are established during the construction and reconstruction of bridges and culverts.
GIS (Geographic Information System)
The County Surveyor’s Office utilizes GIS, which has several layers, including parcel information, aerial photography, contours, flood zone maps, soil, wetlands, and economic development overlays.
Other Activities
The surveyor attends training programs that will benefit the office and community. Oversee and approve every building permit and subdivision that goes through the Starke County Planning Commission, including conducting on-site inspections as needed. Develop all drainage contracts, special provisions for excavation and spraying, inspection reports, and contractor claims. Obtain necessary permits from federal and state regulatory agencies for drainage projects. Maintain and manage maintenance & reconstruction assessment rolls for all assessed drains.
Serves as the liaison between the drainage boards and various state and federal agencies, such as:
Department of Natural Resources
Army Corps of Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency
Additional responsibilities include:
Schedule and conduct public hearings, issuing notices to all interested parties as required by State and Federal law (minimum of 2 hearings per year per board).
Determine watersheds for regulated drains.
Serve as a board member on the following:
Kankakee River Basin Commission
Starke County Planning Commission/Technical Advisory Committee
Subscribe
