In regards to the article submitted by Kevin Williams on the Wolf Creek drainage issue, I would like to make my feelings toward this matter public.
As a resident of Seneca County for most of my life, I have lived in the Wolf Creek area. Being raised on a farm and as a farmland owner-operator, I know the workings of the creek in question. As a child, I can remember the creek flowing free and easy, but as time went on, the creek began to change - not because of field drainage and more homes being built, but because of a lack of maintenance.
As the years went by, trees that were once alive with beauty began to die and fall into the creek. This was the beginning of the trouble we have today. When trees fall to the water, they not only back up the water, they also form sand bars and thus more trouble with the water flow. As a result of this, water begins to push out of the banks onto fields, roadways and people's homes. I have seen CR 36 so high it is impossible to even get near it. I have seen SR 12 impassable. I have seen the village of Bettsville flooded and, friends, I was only in my 20s at the time. I am now 63 years old, and the problem still exists.
So for Mr. Willams to state that this problem exists because of so-called rich farmers is an insult to Pat Scherger and Cliff Hartline and the rest of us who live in the area. Mr. Williams' family owns ground in this area, also. So, you would think he would be in favor of this project.
We who believe in this project do not advocate turning Wolf Creek into an oversized ditch. We just want to clear the dead trees and sandbars from this natural beauty and let the creek do its job to the Sandusky River as God meant it to be. We are the caretakers of this earth and that means keeping the creek clean. In the end, those landowners in Sandusky County will clean their portion of the creek when they see the benefits gained.
The cost of this project will not hurt one farmer or homeowner, but what it will do is help each and everyone of us. It will stop homeowners from flooding basements, roadways from flooding over, farmers from losing crops.
So, Mr. Williams, tell me, what is so wrong with that? I see you are running as a candidate for the Seneca County County Soil and Water Conservation District. Could this be what this is all about, a way to get votes? Trust me, you will not get mine.
Ralph E. Koerper, Fostoria
