Commissioners delay Sanford Ditch hearing as ODOT challenges proposed assessments

Breann Hohman, executive director of the Erie County Soil & Water Conservation District, told the Erie County Commissioners at a March 5 final ditch hearing that the Sanford Ditch Improvement Project — petitioned in 2016 — covers just under 500 acres and includes improvements to roughly 100 acres from the channel at State Route 2 to McCartney Road, plus installation of a backflow preventer and the purchase of property needed to install drainage within the wetland.

Hohman said the district secured an H2Ohio grant for just under $400,000 and that the total estimated project cost is just over $500,000, roughly a 23% rise from the district’s 2023 estimate of $392,000.

Ohio Department of Transportation staff sent a letter expressing support for the physical work — reshaping the ditch, improving the culvert under Route 2 and maintaining drainage flows — but objecting to ODOT’s proposed assessment amounts. Hohman described ODOT’s position that the agency has not experienced flooding from the Route 6 or Route 2 drainage systems and therefore believes the assessment calculations are not proportionate to benefits to ODOT and the State.

County Engineer Eric Dodrill said the county plans to incorporate Sanford Ditch into the County Ditch Maintenance Program after construction. Dodrill cautioned that, if final assessments are adopted and ODOT continues to oppose them, the agency could appeal and halt the project; he said he is negotiating with ODOT to avoid that outcome.

Property owners raised practical questions during public comment. Paul Braun asked whether assessments placed on the tax duplicate can be paid off early; Dodrill said owners may pay in full before the amount is placed on the tax duplicate with no penalty, but once the amount is placed on the tax duplicate owners are locked into the payment plan and cannot prepay. Assessments may be extended up to 15 years on the owner’s tax bill. Soil & Water board member Kurt Heyman asked whether property owners would be notified; County Administrator Hank Solowiej said a notice will be sent once final construction costs are known and owners will have 30 days to pay before the assessment is placed on the tax duplicate.

Tom Johnson, who said he has invested about $1 million in three parcels along McCartney Road that remain consistently wet, urged the project move forward and described the ditch as full of debris. Hohman said ODOT has agreed to clean out the ditch and that some project work (including fabrication of a required pump) will be weather-dependent. Mary Bostater asked about drainage to her yard; Dodrill said the plan includes a privately owned 5x5 box with a backflow preventer to discharge into the marsh and reduce the risk of flooding.

Commissioner Old said he supports the project but wants county staff to review internal financing to determine whether assessments could be structured to allow early payoff. On a motion by Commissioner Shoffner, seconded by Commissioner Old, the board voted to continue the Sanford Ditch Improvement Project hearing until Wednesday, March 18, 2026 (roll call: both aye). Hohman said that once construction is complete commissioners will hold another hearing to set final assessments.

Next steps: Soil & Water will submit permits and complete environmental procedures after commissioners’ approval, bid the work publicly, and return to the board to finalize assessments after construction costs are known.