Lucas County holds first hearing on Big Coulee Ditch improvement; H2Ohio grant to cover construction

The Lucas County Board of Commissioners on an initial vote found in favor of proceeding with design work for the Big Coulee Ditch Improvement Project, petition number 1095, after a first hearing to establish purpose and need.

County Engineer Panuski told the commissioners the hearing’s purpose was to determine whether the proposed improvements meet the requirements of the Ohio Revised Code and whether the public benefits outweigh the costs. The project, petitioned by the Jerusalem Township Board of Trustees, would renovate about 1.2 miles of Big Coulee Ditch. Construction is expected to be paid with an H2Ohio grant of $913,000, Panuski said.

Panuski described an “over-wide” channel approach: crews would excavate a widened channel that lets the stream form its own course over time, with banks that are flared to roughly 2.5:1, a top buffer strip of about 10 feet, and a maintenance easement above the buffer. He said the design is intended to reduce long-term maintenance and that some portions of the ditch connect to tile and will not be altered.

During public comment, resident Dale Bartley of 8549 Jerusalem Road said he owned parcel 3329171 and asked whether widening the west end could cause water to flow back toward the lake, whether downstream cleaning would prevent backwater onto properties, and how lost cropland would be reimbursed. Panuski replied that property owners are compensated for land between the current top of bank and the proposed top of bank at an appraised rate; temporary easements used for construction would receive a crop allowance and compensation for damages. He said the widened ditch would provide additional space to reduce lake backflow onto private land and that the project would not alter existing tile.

The commissioners voted to adopt findings for the improvement and to direct the Lucas County Engineer to conduct surveys, prepare plans, maps and profiles, and calculate estimated assessments for improvements in the Big Coulee Ditch improvement project (Petition No. 1095, Jerusalem Township). The motion was made by Commissioner Gerken; the clerk recorded yes votes from Commissioner Gerken, Commissioner Lopez and Commissioner Cabecki.

Panuski noted that notices for the first hearing were published in the Toledo Legal News on Jan. 20 and Jan. 28, 2025, and that the county provides notice broadly for the initial hearing; property lists may be narrowed later in the design as drainage connections are clarified. He said the county will contact adjacent landowners individually as the appraisal and acquisition process proceeds.

The vote at the hearing authorized the engineer to proceed with surveys and design work; it did not adopt a final construction contract or levy assessments. Future maintenance assessments, if any, would be charged to watershed or adjoining property owners under the petition process and state requirements tied to the H2Ohio funding.

The board did not schedule a final hearing date during the meeting.