City, county near end of flood property transfers

FINDLAY — Another four flood mitigation parcels are set to be turned over to the city, as Findlay-Hancock County officials continue to review property records to ensure all transfers have been completed. At Tuesday's regular meeting of Findlay City Council, an ordinance that would transfer the parcels, most in the flood-benched areas of the Blanchard River, was given its second reading. Phase 1 benching, completed in 2018-19, widened roughly 3,500 feet of the north bank between the Norfolk Southern railroad bridge and Broad Avenue. The work increased the river's capacity and is expected to lower the Blanchard River by 0.8 feet in the downtown during a 100-year storm. Phase 2 benching will widen the north bank of the Blanchard River between Cory Street and the CSX Railroad, improving flow conveyance through downtown. The project is expected to reduce flood levels by 0.2 feet during a 100-year storm. The Maumee Watershed Conservancy District, Defiance, awarded a contract for the second leg of benching on July 14. Helms & Sons Excavating, Findlay, won the $3.7 million contract. Construction had been estimated at $6 million, the same price as Phase 1. Money from a $24 million Federal Emergency Management Agency Flood Mitigation Assistance grant will pay for the work. The ordinance continues a years-long effort to transfer properties acquired by the county as part of local flood mitigation efforts to the city. The current transfer has already been approved by the Hancock County Board of Commissioners. The city and county have been reviewing all of the flood mitigation parcels to determine which ones still need to be transferred and which have already been approved by both sides. Only a few still need to be processed. According to the Hancock County Auditor's website, the current transfer list includes a small vacant residential lot on Jefferson Street, located north of the Blanchard River and near the railroad corridor on the city's north side. The list also includes a North Main Street parcel, a paved commercial lot just north of downtown in the River Mills area that has historically been used for parking. Another parcel is on Meeks Court, a small vacant residential lot in the Davis & Bope neighborhood north of the river in a residential area off North Main Street. The fourth parcel is on Howard Street, a vacant commercial tract in the North Main Street corridor, an area of mixed commercial uses east of downtown. Mayor Christina Muryn said the city and county are working together to make sure the vacant parcels are mowed. She said the city has been calling the county when grass becomes overgrown on parcels still under county ownership, and that county staff has been responding. She said Findlay will mow a parcel if the county is unable.