LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — The Lucas County Commissioners have approved a plan for the cleanup of Ten Mile Creek, leading to new fees for many residents across the county. However, not all property owners will be affected by the charges.
The Ten Mile Creek cleanup plan, approved on Tuesday, aims to address longstanding drainage issues that have been exacerbated by log jams and debris in the creek. Engineers have warned that without proper maintenance, these blockages could cause water to flood onto properties or, in worst-case scenarios, into homes. The new plan will help prevent such damage by restoring the flow of water through the ditch system.
For many residents, the cleanup project will result in a new fee added to their tax bills. The fee will vary based on factors like acreage, soil type, and proximity to the creek’s outlet into Lake Erie. Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski explained that the formula used to determine each property’s share of the cleanup costs takes into account these variables. For instance, if the total cleanup costs amount to $1 million and a property is responsible for 1% of the area, that homeowner would pay 1% of the total cost.
The plan’s approval has received support from various community members, especially farmers who have long dealt with waterlogged fields. John Myers, a local farmer, expressed his approval of the project, noting that poor drainage often results in valuable topsoil being washed into the creek and ultimately reaching Lake Erie. “This money is so well spent,” Myers said. “People that don’t make their living farming… every time a cloud comes up, I see water run across that field, and it’s this deep. Where does that dirt go? Down the ditch to Lake Erie.”
The Ten Mile Creek cleanup will be a significant project, with the first six years focusing on major restoration work. After that, the cost of maintaining the ditches will be lower, as the system will shift into a long-term maintenance phase, with work conducted every 20 to 30 years.
Residents in Toledo, Ottawa Hills, and the city of Sylvania will not see the new fees on their tax bills. These municipalities have opted to fund their own portions of the cleanup, though the way in which they collect these funds will be determined locally.
While the cleanup plan needed the approval of the Lucas County Commissioners, none of the commissioners attended the meeting to avoid a conflict of interest, as each of them owns property within the Ten Mile Creek watershed.
Work on the Ten Mile Creek ditches is set to begin next year.