STURTEVANT — The revival of a long-defunct drainage district in Kenosha and Racine will move forward, despite some concerns from those who will pay for it.

The Racine County Board of Drainage Commissioners voted 3-0 Monday night to accept up to $250,000 in assessments to pay for clearing brush in the Hoosier Creek Drainage District.

The district includes 526 parcels of land in portions of Brighton in Kenosha County and Burlington and Dover in Racine County. There are 117 parcels in Brighton included in this district.

The Hoosier Creek District has been dormant since the early 1980s, but requests from several land owners in the district began the process of restarting this district and planning for clearing brush.

“We’re trying to get it up and running and make it better,” said Al Wilks, chairman of the drainage board.

About 75 people attended Monday’s meeting at the Racine County Building, and several questioned why they would have to pay for a system when their water runoff goes in the opposite direction or pools on their own property.

“It’s not fair that we’re paying the money and we’re still taking all the water,” Ralph Rice of Racine said.

Brighton resident Ed Roucka said the board should look at where the watershed for this area actually is.

Gerald Griswold, who drew up the map for the assessment, said the district is based on some very old factors.

“The map was set up in the ’20s or ’30s, and it may have been updated in the ’50s or ’60s,” Griswold said.

Roucka also suggested that Kenosha County residents receive more notice about these activities.

Ten letters from property owners with concerns were submitted before Monday’s meeting.

The assessments, which range from a minimum of $124.67 to several thousand dollars for larger properties, are based on the benefits properties would receive from the drainage district. Those benefits are determined through the size, land use and amount of runoff on each site.

“The benefits are based on archaic state statutes,” drainage commissioner Al Jasperson said.

There are two parcels in the district the board will investigate further due to concerns raised on Monday.

The assessment charges will first appear on this December’s tax bills. Parcels with more than the minimum assessment can pay those costs over three years.

Jasperson said there is also work planned to attempt to annex more properties into the district, and brush clearing should make future maintenance work for the district less expensive. The board also said it is seeking federal stimulus money to assist with the work.

Wilks said he was not sure when the board would send out bids for the brush clearing, but this aspect is not likely to be the last action taken in the district.

“We’re in the first phase,” Wilks said. “This is a minimal assessment. If we go further, we have to do additional assessments.”