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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Group abandons conservancy district proposal
Home Savings and Loan Co.
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

The Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership on Monday announced it is abandoning its push for formation of a separate conservancy district for the Blanchard River watershed.

The announcement was made by Partnership President Tony Iriti during a meeting held to present preliminary ideas for flood control options in Findlay.

The development came after a summer-long cooling off period in which the Partnership backed away from the concept it had been touting heavily in the spring. The proposal had encountered opposition from area residents, mainly because the conservancy district would have taxation and eminent domain powers.

Conservancy districts operate and maintain projects in a watershed, like those for reducing flooding or preserving wetlands.

"As of tonight, this is no longer part of our program of work. It will be up to elected officials how to operate and maintain" any flood protection projects that are built, Iriti said. "They'll have to come up with some kind of cost-sharing agreement for design and implementation."

Iriti said separate political groups, like Findlay City Council or the Hancock County commissioners, could try to form a conservancy district if they wish.

But other options remain for government entities, like taking flood control matters into their own hands, or forming a joint board that would include other towns or counties that would benefit from projects.

"The Army Corps doesn't care who does it. They just want to know who is in charge of operating and maintaining things," said Iriti.

The conservancy district idea was controversial from the start.

It was introduced by the Partnership in fall 2008 as the most viable, comprehensive option for operation and maintenance of flood control projects. Officials initially planned on petitioning for district formation this fall; the petitions would have been submitted to common pleas court judges in the six counties within the Blanchard River watershed. The judges then would have appointed a board to run the conservancy district.

Much of the Blanchard River watershed already lies within the Maumee Conservancy District, but the Partnership thought forming a separate district would give people more local control over projects.

Three meetings held over the summer, however, attracted a vocal contingent of opponents. The Hancock County Farm Bureau also came out against the idea.

Opponents were wary of having a non-elected board in charge of flood control projects. They also feared the board's eminent domain and assessment powers.

The Partnership tried to use the Miami Valley Conservancy District in the Dayton area as a model.

But critics latched onto the Muskingum Conservancy District in eastern Ohio, where assessments have been challenged in court. The district has won each case.

The Farm Bureau has said it favors remaining in the Maumee district. Partnership board member Scott Malaney, the president and CEO of Blanchard Valley Health System, said Monday the Maumee district has the same powers.

But Malaney said the Partnership has too much on its plate now to be fighting for conservancy district formation; it has a self-imposed 15-month time frame to get flood control projects to the design phase before it dissolves.

"Our job is to get a plan in place and to move forward with it," said Malaney. "The notion of a conservancy district was generating all kinds of rumors and innuendo. This is just not central to our theme. We thought this was becoming a lightning rod and this isn't even the central issue."

"We still believe the conservancy district is the best vehicle" to control watershed projects, Iriti said, but another entity would have to take the reins to make it a reality.

Brown: 419-427-8496,

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1 Comment

Elaine Reynolds wrote:
ballot issues
“ Is the issue about casinos Issue 2 or Issue 3? You state both on page 9 of your voter supplement. Also, in ten pages of voter information, you never got around to listing what Issues 6 through 14 are. ”
Saturday, October 31, 2009 10:32:28 AM
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News Briefs Work scheduled on Findlay streets
Findlay's Main Street, northbound, will be reduced at times to one lane between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. for waterline connection.

Main Street will not be accessible from East Lincoln Street. Lincoln Street will be closed to through traffic from South Main Street to South Blanchard Street from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for continued improvement work. Access to local businesses and residents only will be maintained.

Recount planned in trustee's race
OTTAWA -- After certifying election results on Wednesday, the Putnam County Board of Elections has announced a recount will be required for the Union Township trustee race, according to Deputy Director Shelly Burkhart.

The recount will be completed on Wednesday at the county elections board office, 336 E. Main Street, Ottawa.

Incumbent Daniel R. Ellerbrock has secured his position on the board, earning 685 votes. However the remaining trustee spot will require a recount as Gery P. Wurth earned 598 votes and Mark J. Kahle collected 601 votes, according to official results.

An automatic recount is necessary if the margin is within one-half of 1 percent of total votes cast, according to state law.

Road to be closed
Forest Lake Drive, between Marion Township 237 and Indian Lake Drive/Forest Lane, will be closed today for a pipe installation.

The road is expected to open by 5 p.m., weather permitting.

Motorists are advised to use Township 242.