Lorain County commissioners approve Foster Ditch improvement, direct project to bid with county covering construction costs

Lorain County commissioners on Wednesday approved proceeding with a plan to clean and reconstruct Foster Ditch in LaGrange Township, ordering the project to be put out for bid and confirming that construction costs will be covered by stormwater-district and grant funds so property owners in the benefit area will not be assessed for the work. The engineer and county stormwater staff said the project is meant to restore drainage for about 1,420 acres of farmland and rural residences and reduce local flooding.

Engineers from K. McCartney and Associates presented the final report and plans, saying the proposed improvement would clean and shape 1.77 miles of Foster Ditch, remove log jams and sediment, clear access routes, and establish a 50-foot permanent easement for future county maintenance. Alex Salt, a consultant for K. McCartney and Associates, told the commissioners the construction estimate is $1.32 million and that the final report estimates zero damages to properties because no takings or permanent change of land use are proposed.

The work is funded in part by a $320,000 H2Ohio grant and by stormwater-district funds previously earmarked from…