BY RACHEL MELCER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
GREENDALE, Ind. -- About 40 floodplain property owners grumbled, complained and issued low whistles Thursday night when they learned a levee to protect their land from the Ohio River will cost about $7 per $100 of assessed value.
Even the most earnest supporters of the estimated $3.5 million levee were taken aback at the estimated cost that, according to state law, can be levied against only the roughly 60 people who own land within the proposed conservancy district. The bond issue, if approved, would be repaid over 30 years.
"These (tax levy) numbers are kind of frightening. I'm afraid you've scared some people away," said Tom DeWees, owner of Ande Chevrolet-Olds-Geo and a levee supporter.
But then talk turned to the commercial and industrial development that residents expect to spring up on the plots along U.S. 50, between Interstate 275 and Lawrenceburg if the threat of flooding is removed. It would make their property much more valuable.
Finally, city officials said the levee project will proceed only if at least half of the landowners agree to foot the bill. When a ballot is mailed to each one in a few weeks, everyone will have to make a choice.
"I know that all of us feel the same -- we don't want to pay a penny more," said Mayor Jack Braun. He noted that while some owners will pay less than $100 per year in additional taxes, others face levies of more than $20,000 annually.
"It's your choice, that's the bottom line. It's your property and your dreams here. Do we leave it alone, or do we take it to the next step?" he said.
Development expected
For years, Greendale residents have bemoaned the lack of development along what many say should be a lucrative highway interchange. The strip of farmers' fields, mobile homes and a few small businesses represent virtually the only area of U.S. 50 between I-275 and the Argosy Casino Lawrenceburg that has not sprouted wall-to-wall commercial enterprise.
"We have had some interest (from businesses) already, just on the prospect of this levee happening," said developer Lawrence Higdon, an engineer who bought land in the floodplain in 1985 -- before the riverboat casinos were even a gleam in officials' eyes. "Even then, we thought this land was ripe for solid development."
He predicted that once the area begins to boom, the tax burden will shift by more than half to the new industry and business owners. Dearborn County Assessor Joan Seitz said if development occurs, the current owners' tax rates should begin to drop in about four years.
But city officials were quick to note that they cannot count on development in calculating the likely tax levy.
"We did not want to give anyone any false hopes or ambitions, so we didn't figure in any growth," said city engineer Jerry Daugherty. "It would be like looking into a crystal ball."
Instead, he focused on the immediate benefits of removing the threat of a flood: Property owners would no longer be subject to federal laws dictating they hold costly flood insurance. Land value would automatically rise, and they would be able to borrow against it. And they could sleep at night during a heavy storm without fear that the Ohio River is about to claim their land and their goods.
The floodplain is tenuously protected by a railway embankment that would be used as the base of the levee. But when 1997 floods brought the Ohio River to within a few feet of cresting over the hill, residents cried out for more permanent measures.
"As the flood waters receded, so did the people's enthusiasm (for the levee). There are a lot of things that happened last year that I think people forgot about," Mr. Daugherty said. "It's human nature. But if you forget, you're doomed to repeat it."
City Manager Marlow Smethurst is trying to get some federal money for the project from the Army Corps of Engineers. But nevertheless, he said, property owners will likely bear the brunt of the funding. If they decide to support the levee plan, officials will go ahead with detailed engineering, environmental, topographical and funding plans. If not, the entire matter will drop.
"This did not start out as an idea of city officials. This all started with property owners," Mayor Braun said. "We met our commitment -- now we need yours."
