(PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
DRAINAGE PROJECT … Fulton County Engineer, Rod Creager, gave the final Ditch Project No. 2153 hearing before the floor was opened to the public.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners recently convened on Thursday, May 15, 2025, to deliberate on several resolutions and conduct a final hearing on an extensively discussed drainage improvement project along Road 17 in Clinton Township.
Initial proceedings included the approval of various funding requests and personnel appointments, followed by an in-depth examination of the proposed ditch project associated with Ditch No. 2153, also referred to as the Henry #8 project.
During the regular session of the meeting, the commissioners sanctioned multiple resolutions:
•Appropriation requests for different departments
•A contract for the 2025 county asphalt resurfacing program
•Three resolutions appointing part-time intermittent transportation operators
•Purchase orders, including a resolution concerning Cavalry 5
Subsequently, the board recessed until 9:15 a.m. for the scheduled final hearing on the drainage petition. The county engineer initiated the session by elucidating the scope, history, and current condition of the tile system, noting that the existing 15-inch clay tile, installed in 1915, is deteriorating.
Despite numerous field repairs over the years, ongoing failures necessitated the initiation of the formal petition process under Ohio Revised Code 6131.
The proposed remedy involves replacing the failing tile with a new 15- or 18-inch pipe, installing new catch basins, and cleaning approximately 500 feet of open ditch downstream.
This solution aims to enhance water flow, reduce ponding, and establish a permanent maintenance path under county oversight.
The watershed in question encompasses approximately 310 acres and includes 15 parcels. About 95% of the area consists of agricultural land, with 2% rural residential and 3% public right-of-way.
The engineer presented cost comparisons between the 15-inch and 18-inch tile alternatives, with the larger option increasing the total project cost by approximately $4,900.
Assessments for each parcel will be calculated based on contributing acreage, land use, and proximity to the project.
During the hearing, local landowners, who would bear the project’s cost through assessments, voiced their opinions. Eric Miller, whose property holds the largest assessment share, supported resolving the issue but proposed an alternative approach.
He, along with other involved landowners, expressed interest in privately managing the improvements through mutual agreement, citing potential cost savings and their established track record of maintaining the ditch through informal collaboration.
The commissioners responded favorably to this proposal and unanimously voted to extend the final hearing for 60 days, scheduling a new date for July 15 at 9:15 a.m.
This extension will provide the landowners time to draft and potentially sign a formal mutual agreement, possibly obviating the need for a county-administered improvement and assessments.
The commissioners stressed the necessity of having a signed agreement before the next hearing. They also clarified that, should the landowners proceed with a private solution, some county or township financial participation, particularly regarding drainage infrastructure within the right-of-way, might still be available.
Township Trustee Rick Frey, along with several other residents and stakeholders, attended the session. The meeting concluded with a consensus that the current drainage situation is untenable, yet collaborative efforts may offer the most efficient and cost-effective resolution.
The next steps depend on the group’s ability to finalize their plan before the July meeting. If successful, the petition may be withdrawn; if not, the commissioners are prepared to resume the process under Ohio’s official improvement statutes.