| Description | THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2005 SESSION | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 3/10/2005 | Location | Commissioners |
| Time | Speaker | Note | |
| 9:00:07 AM | Call Meeting To Order Pledge of Allegiance Opening Prayer Roll Call Attendance - All Present Approve Minutes of March 7, 2005 |
Commissioner Barnaby made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Graf. Motion carried unanimously | |
| 9:01:31 AM | OLD BUSINESS Resolution 2005-155 Approve Payment of Bills |
Commissioner Barnaby made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Genter. Motion carried unanimously | |
| 9:01:59 AM | Resolution 2005-142 Enter into Housekeeping Agreement for Fulton County Senior Center |
Commissioner Genter made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Barnaby. Motion carried unanimously | |
| 9:03:19 AM | Shawn Ferguson - Economic Development Department Update | Items covered by Mr. Ferguson were Administrative, Economic Development Projects Completed 2004, Economic Developent Projects Completed 2005, Active Projects, Economic Development Legislation, Fulton County CIC, Other Activities, Facility Tours, and a Schedule for Commissioners Updates in 2005. In the year 2004, Mr. ferguson reported that there wer 28 completed projects with 476 jobs created and 650 jobs retained. In 2005 there have been 5 projects completed thus far with 109 jobs created. There are also 29 active projects at this time with 516 jobs to be created. Mr. Ferguson commented that he feels this to be a conservative number. Mr. Ferguson reported on Tax Reform 2005 in detail for the Commissioners. With regards to personal income tax, Mr. Ferguson stated that Ohio's personal income tax is one of the highest in the nation, which in the the long run impedes job creation. He went on to say that Ohio's tangible personal property tax burden is significantly greater than in ano of the neighboring states and penalizes the investments needed. Ohio also has a high-rate corporate franchise tax but collections are very low and diminishing. Smaller companies that cannot afford high-priced lawyers and accountants pick up most of the tax burden. A solution to address Ohio's high income tax rates, Governor Taft's budget will cut the personal income tax by 21 percent. As to the business tax, Governor Taft's plan will eliminate the tax on machinery, equipment and inventories, encouraging business to expand and make capital investments. The Taft plan will also eliminate Ohio's unfair corporate franchise tax and replace it with a commercial activity tax. The plan also proposes cutting the sales tax rate from the current 6% to 5.5%. The Executive Committee of the CIC has approved the expenditure of $10,685 for the purchase of 10 computers for the Youth Program. CIC has also engaged the law firm of Eastman and Smith to draft the Access Agreement for the Fulton County Airport. Mr. Ferguson reported that the Fulton County CIC Annual Dinner will be held May 24 at Lyons, Ohio. A facility tour of Wauseon Machine is planned for March 24th at 11:00. Mr. Ferguson will check to see if that can be moved up to 10:30. A tour of the Lear Corporation is scheduled for Friday April 8 at 1:30 p.m. This date will be confirmed. There are 3 other tours that Mr. Ferguson would like to set up - Advanced EC, Style Solutions and Leggett & Platt. | |
| 9:41:27 AM | Jan Burkhard - Discussion | Mr. Burkhard came in to discuss airport issues. He reported the ALP is virtually completed by Whitworth-Borta and will soon be ready to be submitted. He also said there is thinking that in 2006 the Air 21 monies could dry up - no one knows for sure at this point. The airport board is taking a look at what the priorities should be with that idea in mind. Land acquisition is a major issue to be dealt with. The other priority will be the runway extension once the acquisition happens. Mr. Burkhard will be working on getting committment letters to get the process moving. | |
| 9:50:20 AM | Review Letter of Response to Board President of Board of Disabilities | ||
| 9:50:48 AM | Review Civilian Labor Force Estimates -December 2004 | ||
| 9:51:12 AM | Review Request for Fulton County Agriculture Society Grant | ||
| 9:52:22 AM | Discuss Correspondence regarding HB 66 - DAS Proposal to Mandate Decentralization of Civil Service Oversight | ||
| 9:53:24 AM | NEW BUSINESS Resolutions: Resolution 2005-156 Enter into Bail Bondsmen Service Agreement with the Village of Fayette |
Commissioner Barnaby made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Genter. Motion carried unanimously | |
| 9:54:31 AM | Resolution 2005-157 Enter into Revised CSEA IV-D Contract with the Fulton County Prosecutor |
Commissioner Barnaby made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Genter. Motion carried unanimously | |
| 9:55:31 AM | Resolution 2005-158 Accept Recommendation of Loss Control Coordinator regarding Approval or Denial of Workers Comp Claim | Commissioner Genter made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Graf. Motion carried unanimously | |
| 9:56:50 AM | Resolution 2005-159 Approve Purchase Orders and Travel Requests |
Commissioner Barnaby made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Genter. Motion carried unanimously. | |
| 10:00:03 AM | Rod Creager, Chief Deputy Engineer - Continued Final Engineers Report on Ditch 2098 (Strayer) Resolution 2005-160 to move to final hearing - May 26, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. |
Bob Lovejoy, Brinda Miller and Jan Burkhard were present for the report as well as Mr. Creager. PROJECT INITIATION This drainage improvement was initiated through a single county drainage petition filed by Daniel Strayer and others on August 28, 2003. The work petitioned for includes removing sediment from the Branch 4 of Blue Creek channel that obstructs drain tile flow. The original petition was written to commence approximately four hundred twenty-five (425) feet north of the Southeast corner of Section 2 T-6-N, R-8-E in Swancreek Township and then continue in a south southeasterly direction through the Northeast quarter of Section 11 T-6-N, R-8-E to Blue Creek Main and there to terminate. The petition asked that excavated spoils be leveled and the any brush along the channel be removed as required. The petition stated that the work plan was to include erosion control measures including seeding disturbed ditch banks and berms. Mr. And Mrs. Kirk Wylie filled an extension of the original Strayer petition on September 30, 2003. The extension called for the project to be continued upstream to include that portion of Branchto the north along the west side of Township Road 2 then west to the Maumee State Forest property. The Wylies further amended the route and course of the extension to include that portion of the open ditch extending through the Maumee State Forest to a point where it reaches either a covered area or to a ditch that is currently on a maintenance program. In their letter of amendment, the Wylies stated that they felt that if they are expected to help pay for drainage improvements they would only benefit if the project was extended through the forest, allowing water to flow freely through the ditch to reduce the mosquito population in their area and to eliminate the risk of waterway contamination due to flooded septic systems in the neighborhood. The intent of the Wylie extension would be accomplished by extending the project to retrace the route course and termini of the 1927 petition known as Ditch No 1377. Ditch No. 1377 was the last improvement of the entire length of Branch 4 of Blue Creek open channel. A copy of the Wylie letter and the plat of Ditch 1377 are included in the appendix of this report. Branch 4 Blue Creek was partially cleaned through petition in 1953. Since 1953 the ditch has been maintained privately. Another petition was considered and dismissed in 1980's after the majority of the agricultural landowners agreed to dip out the ditch privately again. PROJECT OBJECTIVES The ditch improvement proposed in the petition will benefit approximately 384 acres of agricultural, rural residential and state forestland in Swancreek Township. The objectives of the petition and the extension are to provide a well-maintained open channel for improved agricultural and residential drainage and to protect the public health by reducing the frequency and duration of standing water conditions that contribute to the unhealthy proliferation of mosquitoes and the saturation of septic systems. PROBLEMS OBSERVED Problems observed at the viewing were typical of open ditches in sandy soils that have not been consistently maintained. Sediment has filled the ditch bottom to the point that tile outlets draining into the channel are under sediment. Water stands in the open ditch and in adjacent yards as well as the nearby state forestland. Township Road 2 crossovers were under water and were not properly draining. The Snyder farm downstream from County Road B is tile drained directly to Blue Creek Main instead of Branch 4. Snyder has installed parallel header tiles that drain to the main creek and they were both observed, on a follow up inspection, to be flowing with freeboard. Moderate brush lines the ditch bank along Road 2 across the state forest property. Heavy brush lines the channel once it enters the state forest property at the upper end of the extended improvement. There was no evidence of excessive erosion on channel turns or at points where surface water enters the ditch. Algae were evident in several channel sections suggesting little or no flow. Aerial photos suggest that water stands behind the homes in front of the state forestland at the upper end of the proposed project on the west side of Road 2. There was some evidence offered that cleaning the first 400 feet of the ditch entering the state forestland west of Road 2 would create better flow in that area. The water standing in the ditch made it difficult to see, but one or more of the existing culverts may need to be adjusted to grade to improve channel flow. While not a drainage defect, the close proximity of the channel to the edge of Township Road 2 suggests that relocating or closing the ditch should be considered. There was some interest several years ago in relocating or closing the open ditch along Road 2. A preliminary plan of improvement was proposed but never completed. WORK PROPOSED Approximately two feet of sediment will be removed from the channel and spread in adjacent fields. Sediment removed along lawns will be hauled to adjacent fields and spread there. Disturbed banks and berms will be seeded. Seeded fifteen (15) foot berms will be established where none exist. Seeding disturbed filter strips will be included in the work plan. Nuisance brush will be removed from both channel banks. Good single trunk trees standing near the top of the bank can be left standing or trimmed to facilitate construction activity. All brush cut will be piled for disposal by the adjacent landowner. Owners who have kept brush under control will have less brush to clean up and will experience less disruption to the area adjacent to the channel. Little rock channel protection is proposed. It is anticipated that the only rock work required will be at the outlet of the Road 2 crossovers and at the inlet and outlet of culverts that are replaced or relocated. Closing the ditch along existing residential lots and the relocation of the ditch along Road 2 has been included in the work plan. This work will require acquisition of additional right-of-way along the west side of Road 2. CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATE The attached construction estimates were based on information that was obtained through drainage project records, aerial photos, field observations, and engineering surveys. Estimated costs for the open ditch reconstruction as extended according to the Wylie request, including administrative costs, would total $45,935.97. The estimate to install 18-inch and 24-inch tile across the residential frontage along Road 2 is $98,444.60. The final detailed construction estimate was used to determine the estimated assessments for each parcel. Upon completion of the project work plan, final assessments will be prorated to reflect the actual final cost of the work completed. PROJECT BENEFITS AND ESTIMATED ASSESSMENTS Benefits resulting from the proposed open ditch improvements will be due to the removal of excess storm water and to improved drainage capacity. Sediment removal will facilitate tile washing to enable fields and septic systems to drain. Upland owners will also benefit from the downstream control of their storm water runoff through the open ditch and extension. Their participation will fulfill their obligation to control runoff from their property. Rural residential properties will benefit from improved drainage by increasing or maintaining their property values. According to local real estate sources, as a general rule, properties suffering from standing water throughout their entire yards are often judged to be devalued as much as 20% to 30%. Properties with some standing water could be devalued as much as 10% to 20%. Areas that suffer even the stigma of standing water could be devalued by 5% to 10%. Assessments for the proposed improvement were based on the benefits received from the drainage improvements. The type and quantity of drainage runoff contributed by each owner will be a consideration. Special assessments for brush removal and the establishment of grass berms were levied against the individual parcels receiving the direct benefit. In addition, as mentioned in the work plan section of this report, brush removed from the channel will be left piled in adjacent fields for later disposal by the landowner at the landowner's expense. It is expected that the benefits derived from the proposed improvement over 20will total nearly $104,000.00 and will exceed the estimated project costs. Assessments for the project will range from $12.00 to $356.00 per acre. Parcels receiving special assessments for brush removal and berm seeding will be assessed more. Owners can eliminate special assessments by performing the specially assessed work items themselves. MAINTENANCE The Ohio Revised Code requires that all ditch improvement projects are to be placed on a permanent maintenance program. The Code provides for the right of access to open ditches to perform maintenance activities. The maintenance access easement for this improvement will be twenty-five feet along both banks measured from the top of the banks. APPARENT FAVORABLE FACTORS 1.Drainage capacity of the open ditch will be restored. 2.Obstructed drains can be properly cleaned and maintained. 3.Property values will be improved or protected. 4.Erosion control measures along the open ditch will reduce erosion and protect the open channel from further deterioration. 5.Having the open ditch placed on permanent maintenance will insure that the channel can be kept clean and free flowing and will protect the investment in this proposed improvement. APPARENT UNFAVORABLE FACTORS 1.Temporary production loss can be expected on cropland adjacent to the project during construction and some reduced yields can be expected for a year or two after construction. 2.Periodic production loss and inconvenience may result from future maintenance activity. 3.Relocating the open ditch will require the purchase of additional right-of-way and thereby will result in the permanent loss of some farmland and forestland. 4.Lawn areas adjacent to the work area will be disrupted. 5.Local traffic patterns will be temporarily disrupted during construction. PROJECT FEASIBILITY The project proposed in the petition and extension is feasible and can be economically completed through the drainage improvement petition process. Commissioner Barnaby made motion to approve Seconded by Commissioner Genter to move to final hearing - May 26, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. Motion carried unanimously. | |
| 10:29:43 AM | A scheduled continued Engineers Report on Ditch 2097 Dominique for June 20th will have to be rescheduled due to the Summer CCAO Conference. | The report will be changed to June 23, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. A resolution will be prepared for this change. | |
| 10:32:27 AM | Meeting Adjourned | ||
| 10:32:33 AM | ___________________________ Jack Graf ___________________________ Dean Genter ___________________________ Paul Barnaby ATTEST: |
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| 10:33:19 AM | Signed Copies of the minutes, or an audio recording of the meeting, in its entirety, are available for review in the Office of the Clerk of the Board, 152 S. Fulton St., Suite 270; Wauseon, Ohio 43567-3309 | ||
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