Joint board to discuss future of Miami River project
By REUBEN MEES
Examiner Staff Writer

The fate of the Miami River improvement project hangs in the balance after a Logan County commissioner asked that the 15-member joint board of commissioners meet next week to discuss issues surrounding the controversial project.

The meeting, which is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Logan County Engineer’s Office, was called at the request of Commissioner John Bayliss, who was not available for comment Thursday. Commissioners from Auglaize, Hardin, Champaign and Shelby counties are expected to attend.

The project has been moving forward despite a November vote of Logan County residents, who make up about 80 percent of the affected landowners, to stop the project.

Residents began complaining after receiving letters in early March that they were being assessed $25 per parcel with a $2.50 annual maintenance fee.

Logan County Commissioners have said the project is moving forward because Logan is the only county where a vote took place, although they have not formally discussed the possibility of abandoning the project with the 12 other members of the board.

Steve Huffman, who owns three parcels near Indian Lake, said he is pleased the elected officials will revisit the issue.

“I am glad that they are going to discuss it,” he said, “but I thought they already said they got a legal opinion that they could not opt out.”

His main concern was that Logan County made no attempt to resist the project after the vote.

“I think the 57 percent of the people have spoken and the commissioners don’t care. They are spending our tax money directly against our vote,” Mr. Huffman said. “I took exception that the people voted it down, but the Logan County officials, whether it’s the commissioners or the engineer or the auditor, are still taking care of everything.”

State law specifies that the county where the majority of work will be done is responsible for leading the project.

Logan County Commissioners David Knight and Jack Reser said Thursday if a motion to kill the project is made, they likely will support it.

“If the resolution is about what the voters said in November, I feel confident we will all support the position of the Logan County voters,” Mr. Knight said. “If it is a different topic, I will analyze what the topic is and vote accordingly.”

The three Shelby County Commissioners abstained from voting on the original resolution, which was passed in mid-2006 and commissioners from other counties have told the Examiner they are willing to discuss the issue and revote if it comes up in the form of a motion.