Circuit of flood plain elevation markers planned
The Ottawa County engineer’s office has begun work on a circuit of survey points to establish a benchmark for flood plain elevations.

New flood insurance rate maps will become effective in 2012, greatly increasing the need for the circuit, said David Brunkhorst, county engineer.

The benchmark circuit will be utilized by surveyors to establish whether a parcel of land or a structure is above or below the established flood plain.

The circuit will include eight-inch concrete cylinders with brass disks set at ground level and marked with white fiberglass posts.   

The cylinders will be set at various county and township road rights-of-way, Brunkhorst said, adding his office will place them in “conspicuous and protected locations” with the intent of minimizing their impact on farming and landscaping.

The circuit is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

There are penalties for damaging the markers.

For information about the circuit contact the engineer’s office: (419) 734-6777.

Tax incentive may be permanent
A bill that makes permanent a tax incentive for donating conservation easements has drawn broad bi-partisan support in Congress.

And that pleases Kevin Joyce, executive director of the Black Swamp Conservancy.

“Black Swamp Conservancy is thrilled that both Congressman Bob Latta and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur are stepping up for our communities to make this important tool permanent,” Joyce said. “They have seen firsthand the dramatic impact that the incentive has had in helping landowners permanently conserve farmlands and wildlife habitat across northwest Ohio and the nation.”

Under a conservation easement, landowners maintain ownership and management of their land and can pass it on to their heirs, but forgo their rights to develop the land in the future.

House Resolution 1964 allows working family farmers, ranchers, and forest owners to deduct up to 100 percent of their income for as many as 16 years in order to deduct the full value of their gift.

The measure was first passed in 2006 and extended twice but is scheduled to expire at the end of the year.

With the donation of 123 acres of farmland this spring, the conservancy announced it had surpassed 10,000 acres of protected land.

JEDD board to meet
The board of directors of the Lake Township-City of Toledo Joint Economic Development District has scheduled three public meetings: June 21 at 3:45 p.m. and Sept. 12 and Nov. 14 at 4:30 p.m.

The meetings will be held at the township’s administration building, 27975 Cummings Road.

Under the 30-year JEDD agreement, the city and township will share income tax revenues from jobs created at the district, with the township receiving 60 percent and the city receiving 40 percent. The income tax rate will be 2.25 percent.

Other provisions include:
• If an existing business from Toledo relocates to the district, the city will retain all of the income tax until it recovers the amount of tax it received before the company relocated.

• The city and township each agree to provide $15,000 to meet initial costs.

• The JEDD territory is zoned M-1 light industrial and can’t be annexed during the term of the agreement.

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