Spencer Township has opted to pay its residents’ ditch maintenance tax assessments, using an allowance it receives from the county and pitching in $20,000 annually for the next six years.
The trustees voted earlier this month to enter into an agreement with Lucas County allowing the township to perform its own ditch maintenance and pay assessments for residential parcels. The ditch maintenance costs are collected through an additional property tax assessment, which will now be waived for residential parcels in the township.
The county approved two large ditch petitions this year, covering the Swan Creek and Tenmile Creek watersheds. Ditch petitions allow the county to clear log jams and dredge waterways to improve drainage, and allow the county to levy property tax assessments based on the acreage, land use, soil classification, ditch usage, and elevation relative to the creek…