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That includes the Muskingum River that runs through the city, the Ohio River that runs along side it and a large number of smaller waterways, including Duck Creek, that move water through Washington County. “There are not many places in our county that are not affected by high water at some time or another,” said Grimes. Flooding in January 2005, he believes, would have been much worse if not for the network of dams and reservoirs that held back water rather than releasing 15 feet of it into the downtown area. “In 2005, we had four feet of water in the first floors downtown,” he said. “Without the dams we would have had four feet of water on the second floors. Not only is the assessment a bargain, it’s critical to us.” He compares a $12-per-year assessment, typical for nearly all homeowners, with the cost of a bottle of water each month. “For the value we get, we should have been paying for the system for a long time,” he said. “It really isn’t much.” Grimes said he has been questioned by residents who live on high ground, far removed from flooding, but he reminds them that protecting lower-lying properties is critical for the county’s commerce and quality of life. That, in turn, also affects the value of property even at higher elevations. “If there’s flooding, it affects everyone’s ability to get to school, to work, to deal with emergencies,” said Grimes. “It has a huge impact on the economy of the whole county.” The commissioner also has fielded questions about the entire assessment process. “It was voted on years ago when we ratified the Ohio Constitution,” he said. “The Constitution provides this as a means to protect us from the threat of greater disaster. It has been used successfully in every other conservancy district, and it’s time to have it here.”
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