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Friday, July 23, 2010

Conservancy district plan: Opinions mixed
By JOY BROWN

STAFF WRITER

A petition to create a conservancy district for the Blanchard River watershed, separate from the Maumee Conservancy District, is expected to be filed, but not every political subdivision within the watershed intends to sign it.

Findlay City Council on Tuesday took the lead by being the first to pass legislation to form a stand-alone district to manage future flood control projects in the watershed.

Council members unanimously passed the ordinance, believing a new district will allow for more local control over flood control projects intended primarily in Findlay and Ottawa.

Rather than give the ordinance three readings during three council meetings, members passed it by emergency measure, claiming they didn't want the concept to stagnate.

The ordinance authorizes Law Director Dave Hackenberg to sign a petition requesting that a separate conservancy district be created.

The Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership, which is helping with the paperwork, intends to gather signatures from other governments that are in favor of the idea. Common pleas court judges in the six watershed counties, including Hancock, Putnam, Allen, Hardin, Wyandot and Seneca, will then hold a public hearing and decide whether there is enough evidence to merit a new district.

County commissioners and village councils will be taking up the issue in coming weeks.

The Hancock County commissioners intend to give Cindy Land, Hancock County assistant prosecutor, the power to sign the conservancy district petition, said Commissioner Ed Ingold.

Legislation that mirrors Findlay's is on the agenda Monday for both Ottawa and Bluffton village councils.

Sam Bassitt, president of the Allen County commissioners, said his board plans to follow Bluffton's lead on the new conservancy district. If Bluffton Village Council supports it, so will the commissioners.

Slightly more than 7 percent of Allen County, its northeast corner, is in the watershed.

If a separate district is formed, "we'd probably join that as well as maintain our membership with the Maumee" Conservancy District, Bassitt said.

Benjamin Nutter, president of Seneca County's commissioners, said he couldn't recall if his board has ever been approached about the topic. He said he'd have to research it before forming a definite opinion, but said, "If it provides a better service for that area (that floods), I don't think we'd stand in the way."

Seneca County is not part of the Maumee Conservancy District nor any other, and only 1.2 percent of the county, west of Fostoria, is in the Blanchard River watershed.

Wyandot County, 5.5 percent of which is in the watershed, is also not part of a conservancy district. Its county commissioners, along with Hardin County's, said they are staying out of petition activities, but intend to have their say at a public hearing that will be held before the common pleas court judges decide if the new district should be formed.

Several residents of Hardin and Seneca counties said, at Flood Mitigation Partnership-sponsored meetings in 2009, that they were adamantly against being folded into a new conservancy district and paying for any flood control measures that will solely benefit other places.

They were also critical of conservancy district powers, which enable such districts to levy assessments and have eminent domain capability.

Wyandot County Commissioner Michael Wheeler said he has heard his constituents loud and clear.

"We're all hoping for the best for Findlay and Ottawa. The August 2007 flood was a horrible event for a lot of people," Wheeler said. "But the landowners here are my bosses."

Wheeler said one of his main gripes is that he hasn't "seen anyone come through with a price tag" for flood control projects or how much people could be assessed.

"When you pick up the menu, don't you look at the price? When you buy a new washer or dryer, you get a warranty with it. I'm a numbers person. I like to see numbers," Wheeler said. "I've never been really good at telling somebody that something will cost a pizza a week. If we're really going to do something, we need to get the people on our side and one of the best ways to do that is with facts."

Wyandot County's Soil and Water Conservation District isn't sold on the idea that proposed flood control measures in Findlay and Ottawa will alleviate flooding problems without affecting other areas, Wheeler said. He favors "a more holistic approach" that entails cleaning the Blanchard River and its tributaries.

Wheeler also thinks officials should examine whether the Western Lake Erie Basin partnership could become involved and provide an alternative to forming a separate conservancy district.

The basin partnership, which describes itself as a watershed management group, encompasses eight watersheds in three states, including the Blanchard River watershed.

According to its website, its goal is to "provide the structure necessary to coordinate public and private resources across political boundaries to accelerate achievement of environmental goals and support for local conservation initiatives." Those include flood reduction efforts and cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers.

Ron Wyss, president of the Hardin County Board of Commissioners, said he and Commissioner Edward Elliott attended a July 8 meeting in Ottawa where officials from three other counties favored formation of a separate conservancy district, but the Hardin County representatives did not verbally weigh in.

"We don't feel it's our issue to address," said Wyss when asked if he and his colleagues are in favor of or against the separate conservancy plan.

Wyss said he and his colleagues will wait for those in other counties to "make their move" by filing a petition, and "then act on our constituents' behalf" by expressing an opinion, which likely won't favor Hardin County's inclusion in a new district.

"We have already maintained our share of the Blanchard River through Hardin County," Wyss said.

John Love, president of the Putnam County commissioners, said his board is on the fence about a new conservancy. His board has yet to vote on the issue.

Love said he spoke with Putnam County Common Pleas Judge Randal Basinger, who sits on the Maumee Conservancy District court, "to get a feel for what his experience with that has been like." But Love said he needs more information before he makes a decision.

"I'm looking for the truth in all of this whole matter. I'm looking for a solid way to fund this," said Love of flood control projects.

"I want to know if a county can opt out. I'm hearing that three (counties) are saying they are not wanting in (the district). I want to know how you can contribute water to a watershed but not have to pay" to fix its problems, Love said.

Love said he understands the position of Hardin and Wyandot counties. "They're high and dry. They don't have a problem. But every time Ottawa floods I have water running into my basement. So I have a different perspective.

"I'm an information gatherer and I'm still not there yet," Love said.

Consensus need not exist to file a conservancy district petition, but Flood Mitigation Partnership President Tony Iriti said the more signatures are on it, the better it will look to the judges who have the final say-so on the matter.

Brown: 419-427-8496,

Send an e-mail to Joy Brown


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2 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
j wrote:
Hard Sell
“ This is going to be a hard sell to those outside of Findlay and Ottawa, and those supporting it may be committing political suicide. ”
Friday, July 23, 2010 8:32:24 PM
Matt wrote:
Hardin county
“ "Love said he understands the position of Hardin and Wyandot counties. "They're high and dry. They don't have a problem. But every time Ottawa floods I have water running into my basement. So I have a different perspective."

So why should Hardin pay for it? They are not the cause of the problem, nor do they have a problem. ”
Friday, July 23, 2010 8:49:03 AM
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After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.