Chapter 6101 | Conservancy Districts

Section 6101.01 | Conservancy district definitions.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Publication" or "published" means once in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties where the publication is to be made. When a publication is required to be made by a conservancy district or its board of directors, a copy of the publication, certified by the secretary of the conservancy district to have been published in accordance with this division, shall be admitted in any court of this state as prima-facie evidence that the publication has been made.

(B) "Person" has the same meaning as in section 1.59 of the Revised Code. "Person" does not include a county, township, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state.

(C) "Public corporation" or "political subdivision" means counties, townships, municipal corporations, school districts, road districts, ditch districts, park districts, levee districts, and all other governmental entities vested with the power to levy assessments or taxes.

(D) "Court" means the court of common pleas in which the petition for the organization of a conservancy district is filed and granted, as presided over by the judges provided for in section 6101.07 of the Revised Code.

(E) "Land" or "property," unless otherwise specified, means real property as that term is used in and defined by the laws of this state, and includes all railroads, tramroads, roads, electric railroads, street and interurban railroads, streets and street improvements, telephone, telegraph, and transmission lines, gas, sewerage, and water systems, pipe lines and rights of way of public service corporations, and all other public or private real property.

(F) "Underground water" means any water under the surface of the land or under the bed of any stream, lake, reservoir, or other body of surface water.

(G) "Aquifer" means any underground water-bearing bed or stratum of earth, gravel, sand, or porous stone having boundaries that may be ascertained or reasonably inferred, in which water stands, flows, or percolates.

Section 6101.02 | Conservancy bonds and records.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The bonds issued under this chapter may be called conservancy bonds, and the term shall be engraved or printed on the face of the bonds.

(B) The records provided for in this chapter shall be termed conservancy records.

Section 6101.03 | Evidence and forms.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) In any orders of the court, the words "The court now here finds that it hath jurisdiction of the parties to and of the subject matter of this proceeding" are equivalent to a finding that each jurisdictional fact necessary to confer plenary jurisdiction upon the court, beginning with the proper signing and filing of the initial petition to the date of the order containing that recital, has been scrutinized by the court and has been found to meet every legal requirement imposed by this chapter.

(B) No other evidence of the legal hypothecation of special assessments to the payment of bonds is required than the passage of a bonding resolution by the board of directors of a conservancy district and the issuance of bonds in accordance with the resolution.

(C) In the preparation of any assessment or appraisal record, the usual abbreviations employed by engineers, surveyors, and abstractors may be used.

(D) Where properly to describe any parcel of land, it would be necessary to use a long description, the board of appraisers of a conservancy district, after locating the land generally, may refer to the book and page of the public record of any instrument in which the land is described, which reference shall suffice to identify for all the purposes of this chapter the land described in the public record so referred to.

(E) It is not necessary in any notice required to be published to specify the names of the owners of the lands or of the persons interested in the lands. A notice may be addressed "To All Persons or Public Corporations Interested" with like effect as though the notice named by name every owner of any lands within the territory specified in the notice, every person interested in the lands, and every lienor, actual or inchoate, with respect to the lands.

(F) Every district declared upon hearing to be a conservancy district shall become upon that declaration a political subdivision and a public corporation of the state, invested with all the powers and privileges conferred upon conservancy districts by this chapter.

Section 6101.04 | Purpose and organization of conservancy districts.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Any area or areas situated in one or more counties may be organized as a conservancy district in the manner and subject to the conditions provided by this chapter for any of the following purposes:

(A) Preventing floods;

(B) Regulating stream channels by changing, widening, and deepening the stream channels;

(C) Reclaiming or filling wet and overflowed lands;

(D) Providing for irrigation where it may be needed;

(E) Regulating the flow of streams and conserving their waters;

(F) Diverting or in whole or in part eliminating watercourses;

(G) Providing a water supply for domestic, industrial, and public use;

(H) Providing for the collection and disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes produced within the district;

(I) Arresting erosion along the Ohio shore line of Lake Erie.

This section does not terminate the existence of any district organized prior to July 19, 1937, entirely within a single county.

The purposes of a district may be altered by the same procedure as provided for the establishment of the district.

Section 6101.05 | Proceedings for establishment of a conservancy district.

• Effective: July 19, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 450 - 120th General Assembly

Proceedings for the establishment of a conservancy district shall be initiated only by the filing of a petition in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of one of the counties containing territory within the proposed district, which petition shall be signed either by five hundred residents, or by a majority of the residents, or by the owners of more than half of the property, in either acreage or value, within the limits of the territory proposed to be organized into a district. The petition may be signed by the governing body of any public corporation or watershed district created under section 6105.02 of the Revised Code lying wholly or partly within the proposed district, in such manner as it prescribes, and when so signed by any such governing body such a petition on the part of the governing body shall fill all the requirements of representation upon the petition of the residents of the public corporation or watershed district, as they appear upon the tax duplicate; and thereafter it is not necessary for individuals within the public corporation or watershed district to sign such a petition. Such a petition also may be signed by railroads and other corporations owning lands.

Such a petition may be filed by any city interested in some degree in the improvement, upon proper action by its governing body.

The petition shall set forth the proposed name of the district, the necessity for the proposed work and that it will be conducive to the public health, safety, convenience, or welfare, and a general description of the purpose of the contemplated improvement, and of the territory to be included in the proposed district. The description need not be given by metes and bounds or by legal subdivisions, but it is sufficient if a generally accurate description is given of the territory to be organized as a district. The territory need not be contiguous, provided it is so situated that the public health, safety, convenience, or welfare will be promoted by the organization as a single district of the territory described. Except in the case of a subdistrict organized pursuant to section 6101.71 of the Revised Code, the territory shall not be included wholly within the limits of a single municipal corporation.

The petition shall pray for the organization of the district by the name proposed.

Upon the filing of the petition a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the petition was filed shall determine whether it bears the necessary signatures and complies with the requirements of this section as to form and content. No petition with the requisite signatures shall be declared void because of alleged defects, but the judge, or the court in subsequent proceedings, may at any time permit the petition to be amended in form and substance to conform to the facts by correcting any errors in the description of the territory, or in any other particular. Several similar petitions or duplicate copies of the same petition for the organization of the same district may be filed and shall together be regarded as one petition. All such petitions filed prior to the determination of the sufficiency of the petition shall be considered as though they had been filed with the first petition placed on file.

In determining when a majority of landowners has signed the petition, the names as they appear upon the tax duplicate govern and are prima-facie evidence of such ownership.

Section 6101.06 | Petitioners' bond.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

At the time of filing the petition provided for in section 6101.05 of the Revised Code, or at any time subsequent thereto and prior to the time of the hearing on said petition, a bond shall be filed, with security approved by the judge of the court of common pleas determining the sufficiency of the petition, sufficient to pay all the expenses connected with the proceeding in case the court refuses to organize the conservancy district. If at any time during the proceeding the court is satisfied that the bond first executed is insufficient in amount, it may require the execution of an additional bond within a time to be fixed, which shall be not less than ten days distant, and upon failure of the petitioners to execute such additional bond the petition shall be dismissed.

Section 6101.061 | Notice of petition.

• Effective: October 23, 1972
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 397 - 109th General Assembly

Upon determining that a sufficient petition has been filed, the judge making such determination shall cause written notice thereof to be given to the director of the department of natural resources, the director of environmental protection, and to the board of directors of any conservancy district having jurisdiction over all or part of the territory affected by the proceeding or within the same major watershed area as defined by the department of natural resources and the director of environmental protection. The director of natural resources, the director of environmental protection, and the directors of such conservancy districts may appear at any hearing considering the establishment, dissolution or merger of any conservancy district or subdistrict thereof, and be heard concerning the need for a conservancy district, the area that should be included, desirable improvements, and any other matters which in their opinion should be brought to the attention of the court.

Section 6101.07 | Composition of court for hearing on petition.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Upon the determination of a judge of the court of common pleas that a sufficient petition has been filed in the court in accordance with section 6101.05 of the Revised Code, the judge shall give notice of the petition to the court of common pleas of each county included in whole or in part within the proposed conservancy district. The judge of the court of common pleas of each county, or in the case of any county having more than one judge, one judge assigned by order of the judges of the court of common pleas of the county, shall sit as the court of common pleas of the county in which the petition was filed to exercise the jurisdiction conferred by this chapter. In case of the inability to serve of the judge of any county having only one judge, the chief justice of the supreme court, upon application of any interested person and proper showing of need, may assign a judge from another county to serve as a judge for the county during the disability of its local judge. The court of any county, presided over by the judges provided for in this section, may establish conservancy districts when the conditions stated in section 6101.05 of the Revised Code are found to exist. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the court has, for all purposes of this chapter, original and exclusive jurisdiction coextensive with the boundaries and limits of the district or proposed district and of the lands and other property included in, or proposed to be included in, the district or affected by the district, without regard to the usual limits of its jurisdiction. The judges of the court shall meet in the first instance upon the call of the judge determining the sufficiency of the petition and shall elect one of their number as presiding judge. Each judge when sitting as a member of the court shall receive compensation and allowance for expenses as provided by law for a judge of the court of common pleas serving by assignment outside the county in which the judge resides, which shall be paid as other expenses of the organization or operation of the district are paid.

The court shall adopt rules of practice and procedure not inconsistent with this chapter and the general laws of this state. If the court consists of more than three judges, it may designate three of its members from three different counties to preside over the court, hear matters coming before the court, and make determinations and decisions or findings and recommendations, as the rules of the court provide, with respect to any matters authorized by the rules, the disposition of which is vested in the court, except that it shall not make final decisions and orders as to the following:

(A) The establishment, dissolution, or merger of the district or of subdistricts of it;

(B) The adoption, rejection, or amendment of the official plan;

(C) The appointment and removal of directors and appraisers;

(D) The confirmation of the appraisers' report of benefits, damages, and appraisals of property;

(E) The authorization of maintenance assessments in excess of one per cent of benefits;

(F) The authorization of a readjustment of the appraisal of benefits in accordance with section 6101.54 of the Revised Code;

(G) The approval of the method of financing improvements and activities under section 6101.25 of the Revised Code;

(H) The determination of rates of compensation for water under sections 6101.24 and 6101.63 of the Revised Code;

(I) The examination of the annual report of the board of directors of the conservancy district as provided under section 6101.66 of the Revised Code.

The concurrence of two of the three judges designated shall be necessary for any action or determination by the judges, and it has, if so provided by the rules of the court, the same effect as though taken or made by the full court. All actions and determinations by the full court require the affirmative vote of a majority of the judges constituting the court. In all cases in which the judges are evenly divided, that side with which the presiding judge votes shall prevail. If the court consists of two judges and they find themselves unable to agree on any question left to their decision, a judge of the court of common pleas of some other county shall be designated by the chief justice of the supreme court to sit and vote as a third member of the court until the question is decided.

When the court by its order entered of record decrees that a subdistrict be organized, the judge of the court of common pleas of each county included in whole or in part in the subdistrict, or in the case of any county having more than one judge, one judge assigned by order of the judges of the court of common pleas of the county, shall sit as the court of common pleas, with jurisdiction in all matters relating to the subdistrict, the disposition of which is vested in the court, except those listed in divisions (A), (C), and (I) of this section, which shall remain the responsibility of the full court.

Section 6101.08 | Hearing on petition.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

At the preliminary meeting of the court, it shall fix the time and place of the hearing on the petition for the establishment of the proposed conservancy district, which hearing shall be held not later than sixty days thereafter, and the clerk of the court shall give notice of the hearing by publication. Any owner of real property in a proposed district who individually has not signed the petition and who wishes to object to the organization and incorporation of the district shall, on or before the date set for the cause to be heard, file the owner's objections to the organization and incorporation of the district. Similarly, objections may be filed by any public corporation that has not signed the petition. The objections shall be limited to a denial of the statements in the petition and shall be heard by the court as an advanced case without unnecessary delay.

Upon the hearing, if it appears that the purposes of this chapter would be subserved by the creation of a district, the court, after disposing of all objections as justice and equity require, shall by its findings, duly entered of record, adjudicate all questions of jurisdiction; determine that the organization of the district for the purposes for which it is being organized, and that the surveys, plans, appraisals of benefits and damages, estimates of cost, land options, and the preparation of an official plan, will benefit the area within the territorial boundaries of the district; declare the district organized; and give it a corporate name by which in all proceedings it shall thereafter be known. A district so organized shall be a political subdivision of the state and a body corporate with all the powers of a corporation, and shall have perpetual existence, with power to sue and be sued, to incur debts, liabilities, and obligations, to exercise the right of eminent domain and of assessment as provided in this chapter, to issue bonds, and to do all acts necessary and proper for the carrying out of the purposes for which the district was created and for executing the powers with which it is invested.

In the decree, the court shall designate the place where the office or principal place of business of the district shall be located, which shall be within the corporate limits of the district if practicable, and which may be the district shall be held at the office or place of business, but for cause may be adjourned to any other convenient place. The official records and files of the district shall be kept at the office except as otherwise approved by the court.

If the court finds that the property set out in the petition should not be incorporated into a district, it shall dismiss the proceeding and adjudge the costs against the signers of the petition in the proportion of the interest represented by them.

After an order is entered, either dismissing the petition or establishing the district, the order is a final order and may be appealed by any interested party or by the state, within twenty days from the date that the order is entered. The organization of the district shall not be directly or collaterally questioned in any suit, action, or proceeding except as expressly authorized in this chapter.

Section 6101.09 | Findings and decree of court incorporating conservancy district.

• Effective: August 1, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

Within thirty days after the conservancy district has been declared a corporation by the court, the clerk of such court shall transmit to the secretary of state, to the director of the department of natural resources, and to the county recorder in each of the counties having lands in the district, copies of the findings and the decree of the court incorporating the district. The same shall be filed and recorded in the office of the secretary of state in the same manner as articles of incorporation are required to be filed and recorded under the general law concerning corporations. Copies shall also be filed and become permanent records in the office of the recorder of each county in which a part of the district lies. Each recorder shall receive a base fee of one dollar for filing and preserving such copies and a housing trust fund fee of one dollar pursuant to section 317.36 of the Revised Code, and the secretary of state shall receive for filing and for recording the copies a fee of twenty-five dollars.

Section 6101.10 | Appointment of directors of conservancy district.

• Effective: July 19, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 450 - 120th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, within thirty days after entering the decree incorporating a conservancy district, the court shall appoint three persons, at least two of whom are residents of counties, all or part of which are included within the territorial limits of the district, as a board of directors of the conservancy district, one for a term of three years, one for a term of five years, and one for a term of seven years. At the expiration of their terms of office, appointments shall be made for terms of five years. The court shall fill any vacancy which may occur on the board for the unexpired term.

(B) Within thirty days after entering a decree under section 6101.09 of the Revised Code incorporating a conservancy district that includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties, the court shall appoint five persons, each of whom is a resident of a different county and at least three of whom are residents of counties all or part of which are included within the territorial limits of the district, as a board of directors of the conservancy district. Of the initial appointments made to the board, one shall be for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, one for a term of five years, one for a term of six years, and one for a term of seven years. At the expiration of their terms of office, appointments shall be made for terms of five years. The court shall fill any vacancy which may occur on the board for the unexpired term.

(C) Within thirty days after issuing an order under section 6101.30 or 6101.72 of the Revised Code annexing lands to a district and resulting in a district that includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties, the court shall appoint to the board of directors two additional members, each of whom is a resident of a different county and does not reside in the same county as any member of the existing board, for terms of not more than five years, provided that the terms of those two members shall not expire in the same year or in the year in which any existing member's term expires. At the expiration of their terms of office, appointments shall be made for terms of five years. In appointing the two additional members, the court shall ensure that at least three of the five members of the board are residents of counties all or part of which are included within the territorial limits of the district. The court shall fill any vacancy which may occur on the board for the unexpired term and, in filling vacancies or making subsequent appointments, shall ensure that all members of the board reside in different counties.

Section 6101.11 | Organization, records of conservancy district.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Each member of the board of directors of a conservancy district, before entering upon the member's official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath before a suitable officer that the member will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties of office and that the member will not be interested directly or indirectly in any contract let by the district. This oath shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court in the original case. Upon the members' taking of the oath, the board shall choose one of its number as president of the board and may elect another as vice-president. The board shall elect some suitable person secretary of the conservancy district, who shall not be a member of the board.

The board shall keep a record of all of its proceedings, minutes of all of its meetings, certificates, contracts, bonds given by employees, and all corporate acts. The record shall be open to the inspection of all owners of property in the district as well as to all other interested parties.

The board shall adopt bylaws governing the administration of the affairs of the district.

A majority of the board constitutes a quorum, and a concurrence of the majority in any matter within the board's duties is sufficient for its determination. All actions of the board shall be by motion or resolution.

Section 6101.12 | Secretary, employees.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The secretary of the conservancy district shall be the custodian of the records of the district and shall assist the board of directors in the particulars it directs in the performance of its duties. The secretary shall attest all certified copies of the official records and files of the district that are required of the secretary by this chapter or by any person ordering copies and paying the reasonable cost of transcription. Any portion of a record so certified and attested prima-facie imports verity. The secretary shall serve also as treasurer of the conservancy district, unless a treasurer is otherwise provided for by the board.

The board may employ a chief engineer; an attorney; and other engineers, attorneys, agents, and assistants as are needed, and may provide for their compensation, which, with all other necessary expenditures, shall be taken as a part of the cost of the improvement.

The employment of the secretary, treasurer, chief engineer, and attorney for the district shall be evidenced by agreements in writing, which, so far as possible, shall specify the amounts to be paid for their services.

The chief engineer shall be superintendent of all the works and improvements, shall make a full report to the board each year, or more often if required, and may make suggestions and recommendations to the board as the chief engineer considers proper.

The board may require any officer or employee of the district to give bond for the faithful performance of the officer's or employee's official duties in an amount prescribed by it, the expense of the bond to be paid from the funds of the district.

The secretary or treasurer may take and certify the acknowledgment of instruments granting easements or rights-of-way to the district. Acknowledgment and certification, subscribed by the secretary or treasurer, is an acknowledgment and certification for purposes of section 5301.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 6101.13 | Plan for improvements.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Upon its qualification, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the board of directors of a conservancy district shall prepare a plan for the part or parts of the improvements for which the district was created as the board of directors considers advisable. The plan shall be filed, in accordance with this section, within two years from the date of the order establishing the district. The court may grant extensions of time allowed for the filing of the plan if the board of directors so requests, for good cause shown. No plan or portion of a plan shall be prepared providing a water supply for domestic, industrial, or public use, or providing for the collection and disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes, for any municipal corporation, unless the governing body of the municipal corporation has petitioned the board to provide a water supply or a system for the collection and disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes, or has signed the petition initiating the proceeding by which the district acquired authority to undertake such improvements. The plan shall include the maps, profiles, plans, and other data and descriptions necessary to set forth properly the location and character of the work and of the property benefited or taken or damaged, with estimates of cost for doing the work, including the proportion of the total cost to be assessed within the district, a breakdown of the sources of funds to be used in making the improvements, and the extent of participation, if any, by other political agencies in constructing the work.

If the board finds that any former survey made by any other district or in any other matter is useful for the purposes of the district, the board may take over the data secured by that survey, or such other proceedings as is useful to it, and may pay an amount equal to the value of that data to the other district. No construction shall be made under this chapter that will cause the flooding of any municipal corporation or that will cause water to back up into any municipal corporation, unless the board has acquired and paid for the right to use the land affected for such purpose, and has paid all damages incident to the flooding or back-up. No railroad shall be required to be constructed with a grade in excess of the maximum ruling grade then existing upon that division of the railroad where the change is required.

Upon the completion of the plan, the board shall file a copy of it with the environmental protection agency, which may approve or reject any provisions of the plan relating to the supplying of water for domestic, industrial, and public use or to the collection and disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes. In deciding whether to approve or reject the provisions, the agency shall consider, among other factors, the protection of the public health, and compliance with air and water quality standards and regulations and solid waste disposal requirements. If the agency rejects the provisions or refers them back for amendment, the board shall prepare other or amended provisions relating thereto. If the agency approves the provisions, it shall certify a copy of its action to the board, which shall file it as a record of the district.

Upon the completion of the plan and the approval by the agency, the board shall give notice of the completion of the plan by publication and shall file a copy of the plan in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of each county in which works of improvement are proposed, or in which property would be benefited, damaged, or taken by the execution of the plan. Copies shall be available for inspection by all persons, public corporations, and agencies of the state government interested. The board shall make copies of the plan available to any interested party, and may charge for the copies only the cost of their production.

The notice shall fix the times and places for the hearing of all objections to the plan, which shall be not less than twenty or more than thirty days after the publication of the notice. The board, or its duly appointed representative under this section, may, upon motion and for good cause shown, or upon the board's or representative's own motion, grant continuances to a day certain of the hearing on the plan. Any continuances shall not necessitate additional notice. All objections to the plan shall be in writing and filed with the secretary of the conservancy district at the secretary's office not more than twenty days after the publication of the notice. A hearing on the objections filed shall be provided for by the board in the county seat of each county in which a copy of the plan has been filed as required by this section, but the hearing may be canceled in any county from which no objections have emanated either from a resident or owner of property located within the county. The board may, if it considers it necessary, appoint one or more representatives, each of whom shall be assigned by the board to conduct one or more of the hearings on the objections as required by this section and make a record of each of the hearings and report the record back to the board. After the hearings, the board shall adopt the plan with or without modifications as the official plan of the district. Within ten days after the adoption of the official plan by the board, the secretary of the conservancy district shall certify a copy of it and deposit it with the clerk of the court, who shall file it in the original case. If any person, public corporation, or agency of the state government objects to the official plan, as adopted, the person, public corporation, or agency of the state government may, within thirty days from the adoption of the official plan, file their objections in writing, specifying the features of the plan to which they object, in the original case in the office of the clerk of the court. The clerk of the court shall fix a day for a hearing on the official plan before the court, which shall not be less than twenty or more than thirty days after the time fixed for filing objections, at which time the court shall hear any objections filed and approve, reject, or refer back the plan to the board.

The court may, upon motion and for good cause shown, or upon its own motion, grant continuances to a date certain of the hearing on the plan when it is made to appear to the court that further time is needed for study of the plan by objectors. Any continuances shall not necessitate additional notice. If the court rejects the plan, the board shall proceed as in the first instance under this section to prepare another plan. If the court refers the plan to the board for amendment, the court shall continue the hearing to a day certain without publication of notice. If the court approves the plan as the official plan of the district, a certified copy of the journal entry of the court shall be filed with the secretary, and the secretary shall incorporate it into the records of the district. The board, with the approval of the court, may alter or add to the official plan until the appraisal record is filed, and the board of appraisers of the conservancy district shall take notice of all of the alterations and additions. If, in the judgment of the court, any alteration or addition is material in character, the procedure on it shall be the same as on the adoption of the plan. After the appraisal record has been filed in court, no alterations of the official plan or additions to it shall be made except as provided in section 6101.39 of the Revised Code.

The board of directors of a conservancy district shall have full power and authority to devise, prepare for, execute, maintain, and operate all works or improvements necessary or desirable to complete, maintain, operate, and protect the official plan. It may secure and use workers and equipment under the supervision of the chief engineer or other agents, or it may enter into contracts for the works, either as a whole or in parts.

Section 6101.14 | Right of entry.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

(A) The board of directors of any conservancy district, or its employees or agents, including contractors and their employees, and the board of appraisers of the conservancy district and its assistants, may enter upon lands within or without the district to make surveys and examinations to accomplish the necessary preliminary purposes of the district, or to have access to the work. They shall be liable, however, for actual damage done, but no unnecessary damage shall be done.

(B) No person or corporation shall prevent any entrance upon lands authorized by division (A) of this section.

Section 6101.15 | Powers of board.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

In order to accomplish the purposes of the conservancy district, the board of directors of a conservancy district may do the following:

(A) Clean out, straighten, widen, alter, deepen, or change the course or terminus of any ditch, drain, sewer, river, watercourse, pond, lake, creek, or natural or artificial stream located in or out of the district;

(B) Fill up any abandoned or altered ditch, drain, sewer, river, watercourse, pond, lake, creek, or natural or artificial stream, and concentrate, divert, or divide the flow of water in or out of the district;

(C) Construct, acquire, operate, and maintain main and lateral ditches, sewers, canals, levees, dikes, dams, sluices, revetments, reservoirs, holding basins, floodways, wells, intakes, pipe lines, purification works, treatment and disposal works, pumping stations and siphons, and any other works and improvements considered necessary to accomplish the purposes of the district or to construct, preserve, operate, or maintain the works in or out of the district. This chapter does not limit the authority of public corporations to install, maintain, and operate sewerage systems and water-works systems as otherwise permitted by law, but the board shall have full power to require the use of the improvements constructed or acquired by the district for the purpose of water supply or the collection and disposal of sewage and other liquid wastes by the public corporations and persons within the district for which the improvements were installed.

(D) Afforest lands owned by the district;

(E) Install improvements on lands owned or controlled by the district for the proper maintenance of the lands, or for the purpose of preventing or minimizing damage to the works and improvements of the district;

(F) Construct connections to the works of the district for the delivery of a water supply from the works or for the delivery of sewage and other liquid wastes to the works;

(G) Construct or enlarge any bridges that may be needed in or out of the district;

(H) Construct or elevate roadways and streets;

(I) Construct any of the works and improvements across, through, or over any public highway, canal, railroad right of way, track, grade, fill, cut, or other public or private property located in or out of the district;

(J) Remove or change the location of any fence, building, railroad, canal, or other structure or improvement located in or out of the district, but if it is not feasible or economical to move any building, structure, or improvement situated in or upon lands required by the district and if the cost to the district is determined by the board to be less than that of purchase or condemnation, the board may acquire land and construct, acquire, or install buildings, structures, or improvements, similar in purpose, to be exchanged for the aforementioned buildings, structures, or improvements under contracts entered into between the owner of them and the district;

(K) Hold, encumber, control, acquire by donation, purchase, or condemnation, construct, own, lease, use, and sell real and personal property, and any easement, riparian right, railroad right of way, canal, cemetery, sluice, reservoir, holding basin, milldam, water power, wharf, or franchise in or out of the district for right of way, holding basin, location, or protection of works and improvements, relocation of communities and of buildings, structures, and improvements situated on lands required by the district, or any other necessary purpose, or for obtaining or storing material to be used in constructing and maintaining the works and improvements;

(L) Replat or subdivide land, open new roads, streets, and alleys, or change the course of an existing one, and install improvements to replace those in the former roads, streets, or alleys;

(M) Procure insurance against loss to the district by reason of damage to its properties, works, or improvements resulting from fire, theft, accident, or other casualty or by reason of the liability of the district for any damages to persons or property occurring in the operation of the works and improvements of the district or the conduct of its activities;

(N) Conduct on its own or in combination with other entities, water quantity and quality studies and other water monitoring activities that do not conflict with similar studies or activities by other agencies. A written report of the findings of any study or activity, or a copy of it, shall be submitted to the director of environmental protection.

(O) Do all things necessary or incident to the fulfillment of the purposes for which the district is established.

Section 6101.151 | Property of district removed from tax duplicate.

• Effective: September 16, 1957
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 615 - 102nd General Assembly

When real property is acquired which is located either within or without the acquiring conservancy district and which is removed from the tax duplicate, the board of directors of the conservancy district shall pay annually to the county treasurer of the county in which such property is located, commencing with the tax year after the removal of such property from the tax duplicate, an amount of money in lieu of taxes equal to the smaller of the following:

(A) The last annual installment of taxes due from the acquired property before removal from the tax duplicate;

(B) An amount equal to the difference between the combined revenue from real estate taxes of all the taxing districts in which such property is located in the tax year immediately prior to the removal of such acquired property from the tax duplicate, and (1) the total revenue which would be produced by the tax rate of each such taxing district in the tax year immediately prior to the removal of such acquired property from the tax duplicate, applied to the real estate tax duplicate of each of such taxing districts in each tax year subsequent to the year of removal, or (2) the combined revenue from real estate taxes of all such taxing districts in each tax year subsequent to the year of removal, whichever is the greater.

The county auditor of each county in which such property is located shall apportion each such annual payments to each taxing district as if such annual payment had been levied and collected as a tax.

Such annual payments shall never again be made after they have ceased.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:26 PM

Section 6101.16 | Contracts for improvements.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

When it is determined to let the work relating to the improvements for which a conservancy district was established by contract, contracts in amounts to exceed fifty thousand dollars shall be advertised after notice calling for bids has been published once a week for two consecutive weeks or as provided in section 7.16 of the Revised Code, with the last publication to occur at least eight days prior to the date on which bids will be accepted, in a newspaper of general circulation within the conservancy district where the work is to be done. If the bids are for a contract for the construction, demolition, alteration, repair, or reconstruction of an improvement, the board of directors of the conservancy district may let the contract to the lowest responsive and most responsible bidder who meets the requirements of section 153.54 of the Revised Code. If the bids are for a contract for any other work relating to the improvements for which a conservancy district was established, the board of directors of the district may let the contract to the lowest responsive and most responsible bidder who gives a good and approved bond, with ample security, conditioned on the carrying out of the contract. The contract shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by or refer to plans and specifications for the work to be done prepared by the chief engineer. The plans and specifications shall at all times be made and considered a part of the contract. The contract shall be approved by the board and signed by the president of the board and by the contractor and shall be executed in duplicate. In case of sudden emergency when it is necessary in order to protect the district, the advertising of contracts may be waived upon the consent of the board, with the approval of the court or a judge of the court of common pleas of the county in which the office of the district is located.

Section 6101.161 | Conservancy district contract requirements.

• Effective: June 30, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 85 - 128th General Assembly

Notwithstanding section 6101.16 of the Revised Code, the board of directors of a conservancy district may comply with section 9.29 of the Revised Code regarding any contract for the engineering, repair, sustainability, water quality management, and maintenance of a water storage tank and appurtenant facilities.

Section 6101.17 | Dominant right of eminent domain.

• Effective: September 13, 2010
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 162 - 128th General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district, when it is necessary for the purposes of this chapter, shall have a dominant right of eminent domain over the right of eminent domain of railroad, telephone, gas, water power, and other companies and corporations, and over townships, counties, and municipal corporations.

In the exercise of this right, due care shall be taken to do no unnecessary damage to other public utilities, and, in case of failure to agree upon the mode and terms of interference, not to interfere with their operation or usefulness beyond the actual necessities of the case, due regard being paid to the other public interests involved.

Section 6101.18 | Eminent domain.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district may condemn for the use of the district, any land or property within or without said district not acquired or condemned by the court on the report of the board of appraisers of the conservancy district, in the manner provided for in sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code, instead of having appraisals and assessments made by the board of appraisers.

Section 6101.181 | Appropriation of property for sewer construction to address public health nuisance.

• Effective: May 6, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 411 - 125th General Assembly

(A) For the purposes of this section, either of the following constitutes a public exigency:

(1) A finding by the director of environmental protection that a public health nuisance caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare;

(2) The issuance of an order by the board of health of a health district to mitigate or abate a public health nuisance that is caused by an occasion of unavoidable urgency and suddenness due to unsanitary conditions and compels the immediate construction of sewers for the protection of the public health and welfare.

(B) If the board of directors of a conservancy district is unable to purchase property for the purpose of the construction of sewers to mitigate or abate the public health nuisance that is the subject of a finding of the director or an order of the board of health, the board of directors may adopt a resolution finding that it is necessary for the protection of the public health and welfare to appropriate property that the board of directors considers needed for that purpose. The resolution shall contain a definite, accurate, and detailed description of the property and the name and place of residence, if known or with reasonable diligence ascertainable, of the owners of the property to be appropriated.

The board of directors shall fix in its resolution what it considers to be the value of the property to be appropriated, which shall be the board's determination of the compensation for the property and shall be supported by an independent appraisal, together with any damages to the residue. The board shall deposit the compensation so determined, together with an amount for the damages to the residue, with the probate court or the court of common pleas of the county in which the property, or a part of it, is situated. Except as otherwise provided in this division, the power to appropriate property for the purposes of this division shall be exercised in the manner provided in sections 163.01 to 163.22 of the Revised Code for an appropriation in the time of public exigency. The board's resolution and a written copy of the independent appraisal shall accompany the petition filed under section 163.05 of the Revised Code.

Section 6101.19 | Conservancy district rules and regulations - enforcement - prohibitions.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The board of directors of a conservancy district may make and enforce rules and regulations it considers necessary and advisable to do the following:

(1) To protect and preserve the works, improvements, and properties owned or controlled by the district, prescribe the manner of their use by public corporations and persons, and preserve order within and adjacent to the works, improvements, and properties;

(2) To prescribe the manner of building bridges, roads, or fences or other works in, into, along, or across any channel, reservoir, or other construction of the district;

(3) To prescribe the manner in which ditches, sewers, pipe lines, or other works shall be adjusted to or connected with the works of the district or any watercourse in the district and the manner in which the watercourses of the district may be used for sewer outlets or for disposal of waste;

(4) To prescribe the permissible uses of the water supply provided by the district and the manner of its distribution, and to prevent the pollution or unnecessary waste of the water supply;

(5) To prohibit or regulate the discharge into the sewers of the district of any liquid or solid wastes considered detrimental to the works and improvements of the district.

The rules and regulations shall not be inconsistent with the laws of the state or the rules or requirements of the director of environmental protection, and shall be published before taking effect.

(B) No person shall violate any rule or regulation adopted in accordance with this section.

(C) The board may enforce by mandamus or otherwise all necessary regulations made by it and authorized by this chapter, may remove any harmful or improper construction or obstruction or close any opening or connection made improperly or in violation of the rules and regulations, and may bring suits in mandamus in the court of appeals in the first instance, if it considers it advisable. Any person or public corporation that willfully fails to comply with the rules and regulations shall be liable for damage caused by the failure and for the cost of renewing any construction damaged or destroyed.

(D) No person or public corporation shall erect within the drainage area of the district any dam or reservoir upon any stream or watercourse in it, or any work or obstruction diminishing the cross section of any stream or watercourse in it, until a copy of the plans for the dam, reservoir, work, or obstruction has been filed with the secretary of the conservancy district for the board's examination.

Section 6101.20 | Plan requiring building, modification, removal, or rebuilding of bridge, grade, or aqueduct.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When the official plan provided for in section 6101.13 of the Revised Code requires the building, modification, removal, or rebuilding of any bridge, grade, aqueduct, or other construction, and a hearing upon the report of the board of appraisers of the conservancy district has been had and a final order issued by the court for appraisals and assessments affecting such constructions, the owner of said bridge, grade, aqueduct, or other structure shall be bound to make such changes or adjustments within the time specified in the official plan, or within the time directed by the court, which time shall be a reasonable one under all the circumstances. In case such changes or adjustments are not made, the board of directors of the conservancy district may make such adjustments or removals. If the change or improvement of a natural watercourse is made necessary by the insufficiency of the bridge or other structure to permit the water of the stream to pass through it in times of high water, the work of altering or removing said bridge or other structure shall be at the expense of the owner. Before the removal or modification of any works outlined in this section, the board of directors shall give thirty days' notice to the owner of such bridge or such construction that the same be adapted to the plans. In case the owner of any bridge or other structure objects to the modification or removal of such bridge or other structure on the ground that the cost of the modification or removal will be greater than the benefits resulting from such removal, a hearing shall be had before the court of common pleas having the original case, and if such contention is sustained, such modification or removal shall not be required.

The board of directors shall have full power and authority to improve in alignment, section, grade, or in any other manner any watercourse, and it may require the removal, widening, lengthening, deepening, raising, or other change of any public or private road bridge or railroad bridge or any aqueduct or telephone, telegraph, gas, oil, sewer, or water or other pipe lines or any other construction over, along, across, under, or through such watercourse. In case such change is made necessary in any such structure by the failure of such bridge or other structure to permit the free flow of water in such stream in time of flood, then the owner of any such construction shall make such change without cost to the district, or without any claim for damages against the district, except that the district shall pay the cost of excavating the earth for the enlargement of any channel or for placing earth for the filling of any channel where such excavation or filling is required as a part of plans of the district in making the changes outlined in this section. The district shall not be required to make such fill or excavation unless it would be necessary to the plans of the district if the bridge or other construction did not exist.

Section 6101.21 | Passing boat or other equipment through bridge or grade.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If it is necessary to pass any dredge boat or other equipment through a bridge or grade of any railroad company or other corporation, county, township, or municipal corporation, the board of directors of the conservancy district shall give twenty days' notice to the owner of said bridge or grade that the same shall be removed temporarily to allow the passage of such equipment or that an agreement be immediately entered into in regard thereto. The owner of said bridge or grade shall keep an itemized account of the cost of the removal, and, if necessary, of the replacing of said bridge or grade, and said actual cost shall be paid by the district. If the owner of said bridge or grade refuses to provide for the passage of said equipment, the board may remove such bridge or grade at its own expense, interrupting traffic in the least degree consistent with good work and without delay or unnecessary damage. If the board is prevented from doing so, the owner of said bridge or grade shall be liable for damage for the resulting delay.

Section 6101.22 | Surveys and examinations of rainfall, flood conditions, and stream flow.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district may establish and maintain stream gauges, rain gauges, and a flood warning service with telephone or telegraph lines or telephone or telegraph service, and may make such surveys and examinations of rainfall and flood conditions, stream flow, and other scientific and engineering subjects as are necessary and proper for the purposes of the district. The board may issue reports of its findings.

Section 6101.23 | Co-operation with United States government or other corporations.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district may enter into contracts or other arrangements with the United States government or any department of it, with persons, railroads, or other corporations, with public corporations, with the state government of this or other states, and with drainage, conservation, conservancy, sewer, park, or other improvement districts in this or other states, for co-operation or assistance, not in violation of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, in constructing, maintaining, using, and operating the works of the district, the waters of it, or the parks, parkways, forests, and recreational facilities of it, or in minimizing or preventing damage to the properties, works, and improvements of the district from soil erosion, or for making surveys and investigations or reports thereon. The board may purchase, lease, or acquire land or other property in adjoining states to secure outlets or for other purposes of this chapter and may let contracts or spend money for securing the outlets or other works in adjoining states.

Section 6101.24 | Water rights and uses - rates.

• Effective: August 11, 1969
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 85 - 108th General Assembly

The rights of landowners, municipal corporations, corporations, and other users of waters to the waters of the conservancy district for domestic use, water supply, industrial purposes, water power, or for any other purposes are to remain the same as were owned by them prior to the organization of the district, and to such use as could be made of such waters if the improvements of the district had not been made. Wherever the improvements made by the district make possible a greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the waters of the district for any purpose, the right of such greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, such waters shall be the property of the district. Such rights may be leased, sold, or assigned by the district in return for reasonable compensation. If a district has as one of its purposes the provision of water supply, the persons and public corporations assessed for the cost of building or acquiring properties, works, and improvements for such purpose shall have priority in the purchase of the waters made available thereby, and no sale, lease, or assignment shall be made under this section which will deprive any such person or public corporation without his or its consent, of the right to purchase and use a share of such water supply proportionate to the assessments imposed upon him or it for water supply purposes.

Where the district is a riparian owner along the streams of the district, it has in addition the rights which go with riparian ownership.

All the rights and property of the district in the waters and watercourses of the district, and in their uses, shall be exercised in such manner as to promote the welfare of the district, and of all inhabitants thereof, and to promote the safest and most economical and reasonable use of the waters thereof, to encourage and promote industries and agriculture, and to pay the cost of the construction and maintenance of the improvement. Charges for such use shall not be greater than are necessary to accomplish these purposes.

Persons or public corporations desiring to secure such use of the waters or watercourses of the district, or of the district rights therein, may apply to the board of directors of the conservancy district for lease, purchase, or permission for such use. Such application shall state the purpose and character of such use, the period and degree of continuity of such use, the amount of water desired, and the place of use. In case any party makes greater, better, or more convenient use of the waters of the district without formal application, the fact of such use shall serve all purposes of an application, and the board may proceed to determine a reasonable rate of compensation the same as though formal application had been made. Where it is not possible or reasonable to grant all applications, preference shall be given to the greatest need and to the most reasonable use, as is determined by the board, subject to the approval of the court.

No charge shall be made for the use of water taken by private persons for home and farmyard use, or for watering stock.

The board shall not permanently sell, lease, assign, permit, or otherwise part with the control by the district of the use of the waters thereof, and rates for light, power, or other services charged by vendees, assignees, lessees, or licensees of such board are subject at all times to revision and control by state law. Assignments, leases, sales, or permissions may be made for periods of not greater than fourteen years, except that, in the case of public corporations desiring to purchase or use water for public water supply purposes, such assignments, leases, sales, or permissions may, subject to the approval of the court, be made for periods longer than fourteen years upon determination by the board that the longer period fixed by the board is necessary in order to justify and render practical the carrying out of a long term plan for new or improved public water supply by the assignee, lessee, vendee, or licensee and that such use of said water during such longer period will fill the greatest foreseeable need and constitute the most reasonable foreseeable use during the longer period fixed by the board. At the termination of the period of such assignments, sales, leases, or permissions, they shall be renewed for a reasonable period not to exceed fourteen years, or the period of the assignment, sale, lease, or permission then terminating, whichever is greater, on the condition that a new determination is made of a reasonable charge therefor, as provided in this section, unless there are other applications on file, the granting of which would result in filling a greater need or in a more reasonable use. In case such applications are on file, they shall have preference.

The board may determine the rates of compensation for the measurement of the increased, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the water supply of the district, for determining rates of compensation, and for securing to all parties interested the greatest and best use of the water thereof.

The board may make regulations for the determination and greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the waters of the district and for the sale of water made available by the works and improvements built or acquired by the district for the purpose of water supply, which rates shall be reasonable, and it may require bond to be given to secure the payment for such use. Upon the determination of any rate, the board shall make a report of its determination to the court. The court shall thereupon cause notice by summons or publication to be given to the parties interested, stating that such a determination of rate has been made, that a hearing before the court will be had thereon on a certain day, and that objection may be made at such time to such determination of rates. A hearing may be had before the court and objections may be made in the same manner as in case of the appraisal of benefits. Upon the final determination of the matter by the court, the determination of such rates of compensation are conclusive and binding for the term and under the conditions specified in the lease or other agreement. In case of failure of any user to pay for use in the manner specified by order of the court, the board may compel payment, and may enjoin further use until such payment is made. The rights under any lease or sale shall not extend to a change of use, or of place, time, or manner of use, except in so far as is specifically stated in the lease or other agreement.

The compensation for greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the waters of the district may be made by payment according to a unit price per cubic foot of water used, or by a unit price for theoretical horsepower developed, or in any other reasonable measurement of value received by reason of the greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the waters of the district. All money received as compensation under this paragraph shall be added to the funds of the district and used for defraying the expenses thereof.

As a basis for assessment of benefits due to a greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the waters of the district, the board may make a determination of the conditions of the water supply and of the watercourses of the district as they were before the improvements were made, or as they existed at any subsequent time, and it may make a determination of all rights, property, easements, or other interests in the waters, or the watercourses of the district, such determination being based upon records of greatest and least flow, upon the evidence of use or evidence of legal rights, and upon any other evidence and records which are available. Upon the completion of such determination, the board shall make its report thereon to the court. Thereupon notice shall be given of the pendency of said report and a hearing thereon, which notice and hearing shall conform as nearly as possible to the notice and hearing on appraisals of benefits and of land to be taken, and the same right of appeal exists. Upon the determination of the matter by the court, its findings are conclusive and shall be the basis of any future assessment for the use of the waters of the district, provided that in case any party thereafter establishes in court any right or property in the waters of the district or the use thereof which has not been adjudicated, the existence of such right, or the failure to adjudicate it, shall not affect the operation of this provision nor the findings of the court thereon in any other particular.

The rights of the district to the waters of the district, or the use thereof, or to the land within the district and owned by it, shall not be lost by the district by prescription or by adverse possession.

Except in the case of benefits derived from the properties, works, and improvements acquired or constructed for the purpose of water supply, the appraisal of benefits made by the board of appraisers of the district shall not include benefits for such greater, better, or more convenient use of, or benefit from, the waters of the district, but the compensation for such use or benefits shall be made according to this section.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:26 PM

Section 6101.241 | Improvements outside boundary of district.

• Effective: September 30, 1963
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 785 - 105th General Assembly

In the event a conservancy district builds or constructs an improvement outside the boundary of the district, and one of the purposes of such improvement is water impoundment, the persons or public corporations residing or located within the county in which such improvement lies, may purchase such waters at a rate to be determined by the district's board of directors. This rate may, in addition to other cost factors, include an amount to cover the cost of any equipment necessary to make such water available for purchase. The right of purchase provided in this section, does not affect the priority for purchase of such waters by the persons or public corporations assessed for the cost of such improvement.

Section 6101.25 | Recreational facilities upon lands owned or controlled by district.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district may construct, improve, operate, maintain, and protect parks, parkways, forest preserves, bathing beaches, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities upon the lands owned or controlled by the district, or upon lands located within the district owned or controlled by the United States government or any department of it, by this state or any department or division of it, or by any political subdivision, if authorized by lease, contract, or other arrangements with the appropriate agency of government having ownership or control. The board may acquire by lease, purchase, or appropriation property additional to that required for the purposes for which the district was incorporated, in order to provide for the protection, more adequate development, and fuller public use and enjoyment of the improvements and facilities. The board may impose and collect charges for the use of the properties, improvements, and facilities maintained or operated by the district for recreational purposes. Moneys collected from these charges may be used to promote the district's recreational facilities.

In case the revenues derived or to be derived from the properties, improvements, and facilities maintained, operated, used, or acquired by the district for recreational purposes are not sufficient for the purposes of this section, the board, with the approval of the court, may provide for the payment of obligations incurred under this section by the levy of special assessments upon public corporations having lands within the district.

In no case shall the obligations incurred under this section be paid from the proceeds of special assessments levied under section 6101.48 or 6101.53 of the Revised Code, or of bonds or notes issued in anticipation of them. After special assessments against the public corporations are approved by the court, the board of appraisers of the conservancy district shall appraise the benefits to be conferred on each public corporation by reason of the acquisition and construction of the properties and improvements authorized by the board of directors under this section, and shall appraise the damages accruing to persons and public corporations from the improvements. The provisions of this chapter that refer to the determination of benefits and damages apply to the appraisals made under this section, but they shall be separate from other appraisals of benefits and damages made under this chapter, and separate records of them shall be prepared. After the appraisal of benefits has been approved by the court, and within the amount of benefits so determined, the board of directors may levy assessments on the public corporations benefited to pay the cost of the properties and improvements acquired and constructed under this section, and may issue bonds and notes in anticipation of the collection of these assessments. In addition, the board of directors may annually levy a maintenance assessment for the purposes of this section on the public corporations upon the basis of total appraised benefits. The provisions of this chapter that relate to assessments for district purposes and to bonds and notes issued in anticipation of the assessments apply to the assessments authorized under this section and the bonds and notes issued in anticipation of the assessments. Improvement, bond retirement, and maintenance funds shall be established for recreational purposes in conformity with section 6101.44 of the Revised Code, which shall be separate from one another and from other funds of the district, and no transfers shall be made to them from the other funds of the district. The proceeds of all bonds, notes, and assessments authorized by this section and all receipts derived from the recreational properties, improvements, and facilities owned, controlled, operated, or maintained by the district shall be paid into those funds, and all expenditures in accordance with this section shall be made from them.

Section 6101.26 | Taking or damaging cemetery.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

Whenever it is necessary for the purpose of a conservancy district to take or damage any cemetery, the board of appraisers of the conservancy district shall appraise the cost of such taking or easement or the amount of such damage in the same manner as appraisals are made for other property.

The board of directors of the conservancy district after such taking shall have the same powers regarding the removal of a cemetery as are given to a board of township trustees by section 517.21 of the Revised Code, and the cost of removal shall be paid by the district. The board of directors may purchase the necessary land, and remove or contract for the removal of those buried, together with all monuments, or it may agree with the persons or authorities owning or controlling such cemetery for such removal, or it may contract for an easement if removal is not desired.

If condemnation proceedings are necessary, they shall be instituted and conducted according to sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code, in the county where such cemetery is located, and it shall be sufficient to make the persons or authorities owning or controlling the cemetery parties defendant, but the court may upon proper showing of interest admit other parties defendant. The jury in such case shall make a separate finding and include in its verdict the cost of the removal of bodies and monuments as provided in section 517.21 of the Revised Code. The district may pay into court the total amount of the judgment as directed by section 163.15 of the Revised Code, and the persons or authorities owning or controlling the cemetery shall thereupon remove the bodies and monuments from the cemetery appropriated. If the cemetery owners or authorities prosecute an appeal as provided by law, then the district may pay into court the amount of the judgment as provided in section 163.15 of the Revised Code, less the amount of the special finding of the jury as to cost of removal, and proceed to enter upon the property appropriated and make the removal at its own expense.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:27 PM

Section 6101.27 | Board of appraisers of conservancy district.

• Effective: July 19, 1994
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 450 - 120th General Assembly

At the time of making its order organizing a conservancy district or at any suitable time thereafter, the court shall appoint three appraisers to constitute the board of appraisers of the conservancy district, who shall in every case where appraisers are appointed under this chapter, be recommended by the board of directors of the conservancy district. The board of appraisers shall appraise the lands or other property within and outside the district to be acquired for rights of way, reservoirs, and other works of the district, and shall appraise all benefits and damages accruing to all lands within or outside the district and all benefits accruing to public corporations as entities by reason of the execution of the official plan. The appraisers shall be residents of this state, who may or may not own lands within the district. Each of the appraisers, before taking up his duties , shall take and subscribe to an oath that he will faithfully and impartially discharge his duties as an appraiser, and that he will make a true report of the work done by him. The appraisers, at their first meeting, shall elect one of their own number chairman, and the secretary of the board of directors or his deputy shall be ex officio secretary of the board of appraisers during its continuance in office. A majority of the board of appraisers constitutes a quorum, and a concurrence of the majority in any matter within the board's duties shall be sufficient for its determination. The appraisers shall continue to hold their offices until excused by the court, and the court shall fill all vacancies in the board of appraisers, or may appoint a new board of appraisers for subsequent appraisals, as occasion requires. A new board of appraisers, if appointed, shall fill all the requirements of the board of appraisers and perform its duties.

Section 6101.28 | Appraising of benefits and damages.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

During the preparation of the official plan, the board of appraisers of a conservancy district shall examine and become acquainted with the nature of plans for the improvement and of the lands and other property affected thereby, in order that it may be better prepared to make appraisals.

When the certified copy of the entry of the court approving the official plan is filed with the secretary of the conservancy district, he shall at once notify the board of appraisers, and it shall thereupon appraise the benefits of every kind to all real property within or without the district, which will result from the organization of said district and the execution of the official plan. The board of appraisers shall appraise the damages sustained and the value of the land and other property necessary to be taken by the district for which settlement has not been made by the board of directors of the conservancy district. In the progress of its work, the board of appraisers shall have the assistance of the attorney, engineers, secretary, and other agents and employees of the board of directors.

The board of appraisers shall also appraise the benefits and damages accruing to municipal corporations, counties, townships, and other public corporations, as political entities, and to this state.

Before appraisals of compensation and damages are made, the board of directors may report to the board of appraisers the parcels of land or other property it wishes to purchase, and for which it wishes appraisals to be made, both for easement and for purchase in fee simple. The board of directors may, if it deems best, specify in case of any property the particular purpose for which and the extent to which an easement in the same is desired, describing definitely such purpose and extent. The board of appraisers shall appraise all damages which may, because of the execution of the official plan, accrue to real or other property either within or without the district, which damages shall also represent easements acquired by the district for all of the purposes of the district, unless otherwise specifically stated. Wherever instructed to do so by the board of directors, the board of appraisers shall appraise lands or other property which it is necessary or desirable for the district to own, and when instructed by the board of directors to do so, the board of appraisers shall appraise both the total value of the land, and also the damages due to an easement for the purposes of the district. When such appraisals are confirmed by the court, the board of directors has the option of paying the entire appraised value of the property and acquiring full title to it in fee simple, or of paying only the cost of such easement for the purposes of the district. The board of appraisers in appraising benefits and damages shall consider only the effect of the execution of the official plan. In making appraisals, the board of appraisers shall give due consideration and credit to any other works or improvements already constructed, or under construction, which form a useful part of the work of the district according to the official plan. Where the board of appraisers returns no appraisal of damages to any property, it shall be deemed a finding by such board of appraisers that no damages will be sustained.

Section 6101.29 | Effect of improvement on land outside district.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If the board of appraisers of a conservancy district finds that lands or other property not embraced within the boundaries of the district will be affected by the proposed improvement, or should be included in the district, it shall appraise the benefits and damages to such land, and shall file notice in the court of the appraisal which it has made upon the lands beyond the boundaries of the district, and to the land which in its opinion should be included in the district. The board shall also report to the court any lands which in its opinion should be eliminated from the district.

Section 6101.30 | Notice of land included or excluded from district.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

If the report of the board of appraisers of a conservancy district includes recommendations that other lands and public corporations be included in the district or that certain lands and public corporations be excluded from the district, the clerk of the court before which the proceeding is pending shall give to the owners of that property and to the public corporations by publication notice of a hearing on the petition for the creation of the district. The notice to those owners whose lands are or the public corporations to be added to the district may be substantially as shown in section 6101.84 of the Revised Code. The time and place of the hearing may be the same as those of a hearing on appraisals. To the owners of property and public corporations to be excluded from the district, it is sufficient to notify them of that fact.

Section 6101.31 | Conservancy appraisal record.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of appraisers of a conservancy district shall prepare a report of its findings that shall be known as the conservancy appraisal record. The record shall contain the name of the owner of property appraised as it appears on the tax duplicate or the deed records if ascertainable from them, the tax mailing address or other known address of the owner if ascertainable, a description of the property appraised, the amount of benefits appraised, the amount of damages appraised, and the appraised value of land or other property that may be taken for the purposes of the district. In case benefits are appraised accruing to a public corporation as an entity, the name and, if ascertainable, address of the public corporation and the amount of the benefit appraised shall be entered in the record. The board shall also report any other benefits or damages or any other matter that, in its opinion, should be brought to the attention of the court. No error in the names or addresses of the owners of real property or in the descriptions of the property shall invalidate the appraisal or the levy of assessments based on it, if sufficient description is given to identify the real property.

When the report is completed, it shall be signed by at least a majority of the board and deposited with the clerk of the court, who shall file it in the original case. At the same time, copies of that part of the report giving the appraisal of benefits and appraisals of land to be taken and of damages in any county shall be made and certified to and filed with the clerk of the court of common pleas of that county.

Section 6101.32 | Notice of filing report on appraisals.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Upon the filing of the report of the board of appraisers of a conservancy district under section 6101.31 of the Revised Code, the clerk of the court shall give notice of the filing by publication in each county in the district in which property included in the conservancy appraisal record is located. The notice shall be substantially as set forth in division (F) of section 6101.84 of the Revised Code. It is not necessary for the clerk to name the parties interested, and the notice shall be addressed "To All Persons or Public Corporations Interested." It is not necessary to describe separate lots or tracts of land in giving the notice, but the heading of the notice and the text of it shall give, and it is sufficient if each gives, descriptions that will enable the owner of land or the owner of an interest of record in land to determine whether the owner's land or interest is covered by the descriptions. For instance, it is sufficient to state in the heading "NOTICE OF HEARING ON APPRAISALS ON LANDS LYING IN____________________, ____________________, and____________________ TOWNSHIPS AND IN THE CITIES OR VILLAGES OF____________________, ____________________, and____________________ in ____________________ COUNTY," and it is sufficient to state in the text "All land lying in the____________________ ward of the city of____________________," or "All land abutting on ____________________ street in the city of____________________," or "All land lying west of____________________ river and east of ____________________ railroad in____________________ township," or any other general description pointing out the lands involved.

If lands in different counties are mentioned in the report, it is not necessary to publish a description of all the lands in the district in each county, but only of that part of the lands located in the county in which publication is made.

The board of directors of the conservancy district, on or before the date of the publication of the notice provided for in this section, shall mail by first class mail to the applicable public corporations and to all other known persons having an interest of record in property that is to be taken or is damaged and whose tax mailing or other known address is disclosed by the affidavit referred to in this section a notice that shall be directed to the appropriate address, shall advise the addressee of the date of the filing and place of filing of the report of the board of appraisers, and shall state that the addressee has the right to file exceptions to the report on or before a specified date and to be heard in the county where the addressee's property is located at the time and place fixed by the court as provided by section 6101.33 of the Revised Code. The notice shall contain a statement that the property to be taken or the damage has been appraised and shall give the dollar amount of that appraisal.

The secretary of the conservancy district, or the secretary's deputy, as ex officio secretary of the board of appraisers, shall prepare and file with the clerk of the court on the date of the mailing of the notices provided for in this section an affidavit attesting in substance that, as of the date of the mailing of the notices, the affiant has determined that the names of all applicable public corporations, and the names of the owners of property that is to be taken or that is damaged, where those names are ascertainable, together with their respective tax mailing or other known addresses where ascertainable, are listed in the report of the board of appraisers with the exception of differing names or addresses specifically set forth in the affidavit; that no names and no tax mailing or other known addresses are ascertainable except as may be disclosed by the report as supplemented by the affidavit; and that notices have been mailed as provided for in this section to each public corporation and to all other persons having an interest of record in property that is to be taken or that is damaged and whose interest is known or can be ascertained from the record. The affidavit shall be given on the basis of available information and after the exercise of reasonable diligence, and it shall so state. The affidavit shall be prima-facie evidence of the matters attested to in it.

Section 6101.33 | Exceptions to appraisals.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Any property owner or public corporation may accept the appraisals in its favor of benefits, of damages, and of lands to be taken made by the board of appraisers of a conservancy district, or may acquiesce in the board's failure to appraise damages in its favor, and shall be construed to have done so unless, within thirty days after the publication provided for in section 6101.32 of the Revised Code, or such additional time as may be granted by the presiding judge of the court, the property owner or public corporation files exceptions to the report or to any appraisal of benefits, damages, or land to be taken that may be appropriated. All exceptions shall be heard by the court beginning not less than forty or more than fifty days after the publication provided for in that section, and determined in advance of other business so as to carry out, liberally, the purposes and needs of the district. The court shall provide for the hearing on the exceptions in the county seat of each county in which property is located with respect to which an exception or exceptions have been filed at a time and place fixed by the court. Notice of the time and place of the hearing of an exception shall be given the exceptor in such manner as the court may direct. The hearing conducted in a particular county shall be limited to testimony presented by the district and by exceptors whose exceptions relate to property located within that county.

The court may, if it considers it necessary, appoint one or more magistrates, each to be assigned by the court to conduct one or more of the hearings on exceptions required by this section, to make a record of each of the hearings, and to report the record, together with findings and recommendations, back to the court. The magistrates shall have the usual powers possessed by magistrates, shall have the cooperation of the officials of the district in determining any facts relative to the conservancy appraisal record, and may use any abstracts, title certificates, title reports, or other information that the district has relative to any of the properties included in the appraisal record.

The court may cancel the scheduled hearing in any county having few exceptors, provided that the exceptors are given advance notice, in a manner as the court may direct, of the time and place of hearing in a nearby county at which the exceptors shall be heard.

The court may, if it considers it necessary, return the conservancy appraisal record to the board for its further consideration and amendment, and enter its order to that effect. If the appraisal record as a whole is referred back to the board, the court shall not resume the hearing on it without new notice, as for an original hearing on it. The court may, without losing jurisdiction over the appraisal record, order the board to recast the appraisal record when the order of the court specifies the precise character of the changes.

Section 6101.34 | Court order on appraisals.

• Effective: December 18, 1964
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 19 - 105th General Assembly

If it appears to the satisfaction of the court after having heard and determined all the exceptions filed pursuant to section 6101.33 of the Revised Code that the estimated cost of constructing the improvement contemplated in the official plan is less than the benefits appraised, then the court shall approve and confirm the report of the board of appraisers of a conservancy district as modified and amended, and, except as otherwise provided in sections 6101.43, 6101.54, 6101.60, and 6101.78 of the Revised Code, such findings and appraisals are final and incontestable. In considering the appraisals made by the board, the court shall take cognizance of the official plan and of the degree to which it is effective for the purposes of the district. If the court finds that the estimated benefits appraised are less than the total costs of the execution of the official plan, exclusive of interest on deferred payments, it shall disapprove the report of the board of appraisers and may return said official plan to the board of directors of the conservancy district with the order for it to prepare new or amended plans or it may disorganize the district after having provided for the payment of all expenditures.

Section 6101.35 | Appeal from award of compensation or damages.

• Effective: January 1, 1966
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 94 - 106th General Assembly

Any person or public or private corporation desiring to appeal from an award as to compensation or damages shall, within twenty days from the judgment of the court confirming the report of the board of appraisers of a conservancy district, file with the clerk of such court a written notice making demand for a jury trial, specifying the award or awards from which the appeal is taken. He shall at the same time file a bond with good and sufficient security to be approved by the clerk in the sum of not more than two hundred dollars to the effect that if the appellant does not recover more by the verdict of the jury than the sum awarded him by the board, or if the verdict is not more favorable to him, he will pay the costs of the appeal.

The appeal shall be from the award of compensation or damages, or both, shall require the conservancy district to commence proceedings pursuant to sections 163.01 to 163.22, inclusive, of the Revised Code, but shall not include the questions of necessity for the appropriation, inability of the parties to agree, or any other part of the decree of the court.

Upon filing a petition as provided for in section 163.05 of the Revised Code, a copy thereof shall be served upon each appellant or his attorney, and no other service of summons is necessary.

Section 6101.36 | Possession and title to property.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

No property shall be taken under this chapter until compensation has been paid according to law. But if a trial is had by jury and a verdict is rendered that is confirmed by the trial court, the board of directors of the conservancy district may pay the amount allowed into court in money with the costs, and, at that time, the court shall make an order admitting the district into possession of the property and confirming its title to the property, although the owner may take steps to take the case to a higher court. At that time, the board may enter into undisturbed possession of the property and rights involved.

Section 6101.37 | Certified copy of decree.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Upon the entry of the order of the court approving the report of the board of appraisers of a conservancy district, the clerk of said court in which the same is entered shall transmit a certified copy of the decree, and of the appraisals as confirmed by the court, except those parts from which appeals have been perfected but not determined, to the secretary of the conservancy district.

Upon the entry of the order of the court approving the report of the board, the clerk of the court shall also transmit to the governing or taxing body of each political subdivision, to which benefits have been determined, a certified copy of that portion of said order which sets forth the benefit, as confirmed by the court, to such political subdivision, and said governing or taxing body shall receive and file the same.

When any appeal has been finally determined, the clerk of that court shall certify the amount of each item of the judgment to the clerk of the court having the original case, who shall file the same therein and thereupon transmit certified copies of the same as provided in this section.

Section 6101.38 | Confirmed appraisal of compensation or damages - appointment of magistrate.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

After a certified copy of the entry of the court and of the appraisals as confirmed by the court, except those parts from which appeals have been perfected but not determined, is transmitted to the secretary of the conservancy district as provided by section 6101.37 of the Revised Code, the board of directors of the conservancy district may deposit with the court the amount of any confirmed appraisal of compensation or damages, from the award of which no appeal has been taken, for any property or interest in property as included in the conservancy appraisal record and confirmed by the court. The court then shall enter an order admitting the district into possession of all of the property for which payment has been deposited, and confirming its title to that property. The clerk of the court shall have so much of the order recorded in the office of the county recorder of the county where the land is located as will show the transfer of title. The owners of the property then shall have an interest in the fund so deposited to the extent of their respective interests in the property taken or damaged.

The court shall appoint a magistrate who, upon giving bond in the amount and manner ordered by the court, shall receive all applications of owners, lienholders, and other persons claiming an interest in any of the property acquired by the district through the appraisal record, conduct necessary hearings, and report to the court from time to time as to the persons entitled to payment out of the fund and the amount due each. The court, if satisfied that the report is correct, shall order the magistrate and the clerk to countersign vouchers for the payment of the money to the persons entitled to it. In the event of conflicting claims to the fund, the claims may be submitted and determined in the court, proceedings shall be had as provided in section 163.18 of the Revised Code, insofar as that section is applicable to this section, and the costs of the proceedings shall be paid by the claimants. All interest income from the fund shall be paid to the district, and all costs of administering and handling the fund deposited with the court shall be paid by the district. The magistrate shall have the usual powers possessed by magistrates, shall have the cooperation of the district in determining the proper parties entitled to the fund, and may use any abstracts, title certificates, title reports, or other information that the district has relative to any of the properties acquired by the district on the appraisal record.

If the district acquired any of the property or interests appearing on the appraisal record by contract without the intervention of the magistrate, the court shall order the return to the district of so much of the fund as represents the property or interest so acquired.

Section 6101.39 | Alteration or addition to plan.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district may, at any time after the conservancy appraisal record is filed, when necessary to fulfill the objects for which the district was created, alter or add to the official plan by amendment. Such alterations or additions may be alterations in or additions to improvements previously provided for in the official plan or may consist of new works or improvements for the accomplishment of the purposes for which the district was created that were not previously provided for in the official plan. When such alterations or additions are formally approved by the board and by the court and are filed with the secretary of the conservancy district, they shall become part of the official plan for all purposes of this chapter. If such alterations or additions in the judgment of the court neither materially modify the general character of the work, nor materially increase resulting damage for which the board is not able to make amicable settlement, no action other than a resolution of the board is necessary for the approval of such alterations or additions. Any alteration or addition to the official plan relating to the provision of water supply or the collection and disposal of sewage and liquid wastes requires the approval of the environmental protection agency. If the proposed alterations or additions materially modify the general character of the work, or materially modify the resulting damages or materially reduce the benefits for which the board is not able to make amicable settlement, or materially increase the benefits in such a manner as to require a new appraisal, the court shall direct the board of appraisers of the conservancy district, which may be the original board, or a new board appointed by the court on petition of the board of directors or otherwise, to appraise the property to be taken, benefited, or damaged by the proposed alterations or additions.

Upon the completion of the report by the board of appraisers, notice shall be given and a hearing had on its report in the same manner as in the case of the original report of the board of appraisers, and the same right of appeal to a jury exists. When the only question at issue is additional damages or reduction of benefits to property due to modifications or additions to the plans, the board of directors may, if it finds it practicable, make settlements with the owners of the property damaged instead of having appraisals made by the board of appraisers. In case such settlements are made, notice and hearing need not be had. After bonds have been sold, in order that their security may not be impaired, no reduction shall be made in the amount of benefits appraised against property in the district, but in lieu of such reductions in benefits, if any are made, the amount shall be paid to the party in cash. This section applies to all changes in appraisals under this chapter.

Section 6101.40 | Appeals not permitted to interrupt or delay any action.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

No appeal under this chapter shall be permitted to interrupt or delay any action or the prosecution of any work under this chapter, except where the party appealing is entitled to a jury under the constitution of the state, and the jury trial has not been had, in which case only so much of the work shall be interrupted or delayed as would constitute a taking of or a damaging of the property of the appellant.

The board of directors of a conservancy district may appeal from any order of the court of common pleas made in any proceeding under this chapter not requiring the intervention of a jury.

The failure to appeal from any order of the court in any proceedings under this chapter within the time specified in this chapter constitutes a waiver of any irregularity in the proceedings. The remedies provided for in this chapter exclude all other remedies except as provided in this chapter.

Section 6101.41 | Land of district exempt from assessment.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

If any lands in any conservancy district are not liable for assessment at the time of the execution of the work, but afterwards, during the period when the work is being paid for, become liable to assessment by reason of some change in condition or ownership, the lands then shall be appraised and assessed as other lands in the district receiving equal benefits.

Section 6101.42 | Appraising lands not at first included within boundaries of district.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

If any real property or public corporation within or without any conservancy district is benefited and for any reason the benefits were not appraised in the original proceedings or were not appraised to the extent of the benefits received, or if any person or public corporation makes use of or profit by the works of any district to a degree not compensated for in the original appraisal, or if the board of directors of the conservancy district finds it necessary, subsequent to the time when the first appraisals are made, to take or damage any additional property, the board of directors, at any time such a condition becomes evident, shall direct the board of appraisers of the conservancy district to appraise the benefits or the enhanced benefits received by the property or public corporation, or the damages or value of property taken. Proceedings outlined in this chapter for appraising lands not at first included within the boundaries of the district shall in all matters be conformed with including notice to the parties, or the board of directors may make any suitable settlement with the person or public corporation for the use, benefit, damage, or property taken.

Section 6101.43 | Moneys of district administered through funds.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

No fault in any notice or other proceedings, whether by reason of noncompliance with the requirements of this chapter or with any applicable constitutional requirements, or otherwise, shall affect the validity of any proceeding under this chapter, except to the extent to which it can be shown that the fault resulted in a material denial of justice to the property owner or public corporation complaining of the fault.

If it is found upon a hearing that, by reason of some irregularity or defect in the proceedings, the appraisal has not been properly made, the court may nevertheless, on having proof that expense has been incurred which is a proper charge against the property of the person, or against the public corporation, complaining of the irregularity or defect, render a finding as to the amount of benefits to the property or public corporation, and appraise the proper benefits accordingly, subject to a claim for a jury as provided in section 6101.35 of the Revised Code, where the party is entitled to it. At that time, the land or public corporation shall be assessed as other land or public corporations equally benefited. If, at any time either before or after the issuance of bonds or notes pursuant to this chapter, the appraisal of benefits, either as a whole or in part, is declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid by reason of any defect or irregularity in the proceedings, whether jurisdictional or by reason of noncompliance with any of the requirements of this chapter or with any applicable constitutional requirements, or otherwise, the court of common pleas, on the application of the board of directors of the conservancy district or on the application of any holder of any bonds or notes that have been issued pursuant to this chapter, shall promptly and without delay remedy, or cause to be remedied, all defects or irregularities as the case requires and, for the purpose, may direct the board of appraisers of the conservancy district to make, in the manner provided in section 6101.28 of the Revised Code, a new appraisal of the amount of benefits against the whole or any part of the lands or any public corporation in the district as the case requires and may order a new hearing to be held after giving of notice of the hearing in compliance with the requirements of this chapter, or such other and further notice as the court shall prescribe to comply with any applicable constitutional requirements.

Section 6101.44 | Moneys of district administered through funds.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The moneys of every conservancy district shall be administered through the following funds:

(A) The preliminary fund, consisting of the proceeds of the preliminary assessment levied under authority of section 6101.45 of the Revised Code, any advances of assessments obtained or notes issued in accordance with section 6101.46 of the Revised Code, and any contribution or appropriation by the state under authority of section 6101.45 of the Revised Code, which shall be used for the payment of expenses incurred for the purposes for which such preliminary assessments and contributions are authorized;

(B) The improvement fund, consisting of the proceeds of all special assessments the collection of which has not been anticipated in the issuance of bonds or notes and the proceeds of all bonds and notes, other than bonds to retire notes, issued under section 6101.50 of the Revised Code, which shall be used for defraying expenditures incurred in the execution of the official plan and the acquisition or construction of properties, works, and improvements of the district, including the cost of preparing the official plan and the appraisal, the entire cost of construction and superintendence, with all charges incidental thereto, and the cost of administration during the period of construction and may also be used for defraying preliminary expenses in accordance with section 6101.46 of the Revised Code and repayment to the preliminary fund, in the manner and to the extent provided by this section, of expenditures from it;

(C) The bond retirement fund, consisting of the proceeds of all special assessments the collection of which has been anticipated in the issuance of bonds or notes together with all other receipts pledged for the retirement of bonds or notes or the payment of interest on the bonds or notes, which shall be used only for those purposes;

(D) The maintenance fund, consisting of the proceeds of maintenance assessments levied annually in accordance with section 6101.53 of the Revised Code, earnings from the operation of the works of the district, and all receipts not otherwise assigned by law or by order of the board of directors of the conservancy district, which shall be used for the payment of operation, maintenance, and other current expense of the district.

Before levying any assessment to pay the cost of an improvement, the board of directors shall determine the amount expended and to be expended from the preliminary fund for surveys and plans, appraisals, hearings, administration, court costs, and other incidentals that equitably should be repaid to the preliminary fund. The amount may be all or any portion of the preliminary expenses for the improvement. When specified by resolution of the board of directors, the amount shall be included in the costs to be paid from the assessments upon benefited property, and shall be transferred from the improvement fund to the preliminary fund.

The board may establish separate or special funds of each class for each or any designated purpose for which the district is incorporated. Any surplus moneys in any fund of the district may be transferred to any other such fund by the board with the approval of the court, but no transfer shall be made from the bond retirement fund prior to the final maturity of the bonds and notes payable from it, and no transfer shall thereafter be made which would reduce the balance in the fund below the amount required for the payment of all obligations outstanding against the fund.

No money shall be drawn from the treasury of the district, and no obligation for the expenditure of money shall be incurred, except in pursuance of an appropriation by the board. This prohibition does not apply to funds placed at the place of payment by the treasurer of the conservancy district for the payment of maturing bonds and notes and interest on them in accordance with section 6101.51 of the Revised Code. At or before the opening of each fiscal year, which shall correspond to the calendar year unless a different year is authorized by the auditor of state, the board shall adopt a resolution making appropriations for the ensuing year. The appropriation resolution may be amended or supplemented by the board. The total amount appropriated from any fund for any year shall not exceed the sum of the unencumbered balance in the fund at the beginning of the year and the amounts to be received during the year from bonds authorized, and special assessments imposed prior to their appropriation, together with all other moneys estimated to be received by the fund during the year. At the close of each fiscal year, all unencumbered balances of appropriations shall revert to the funds from which they were made and shall be subject to reappropriation.

No contract shall be entered into, and no order shall be issued, involving the expenditure of money unless the accounting officer of the district first certifies that the amount required to meet the expenditure or, in the case of a continuing contract to be performed in whole or in part in a subsequent fiscal year, the amount required to meet the contract in the year in which the contract is made has been lawfully appropriated for the purpose and is in the treasury or in process of collection to the credit of an appropriate fund free from previous encumbrances. Accounts shall be kept in such form as to show at all times the true condition of each appropriation.

Section 6101.441 | Dissolution or disorganization of conservancy district.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

In the event of the dissolution or disorganization of any conservancy district organized pursuant to this chapter, the board of directors of the district shall determine the amount of funds of the district not needed for the payment of the expenses and indebtedness of the district and shall, upon the dissolution or disorganization, forthwith distribute the funds among the various counties comprising the district in the same proportion as the funds of the district were received from the counties whether by donation, assessment, tax, or otherwise. The amount due each county shall be paid to the treasurer of the county and shall be placed and held in a separate fund to be known as the conservancy district fund.

If a petition for the establishment of a new political subdivision whose primary purpose is flood control, water conservation, water supply, or water management, that is authorized under this chapter or other sections of the Revised Code, and that includes the county or a part of it is pending at the time of or is filed within one year after the receipt of the moneys by the treasurer, and the new political subdivision is subsequently organized, or if the new political subdivision has been organized at the time the moneys are received by the treasurer, the treasurer shall, upon the written request of the directors of the new political subdivision, forthwith pay over all funds in the conservancy district fund to the new political subdivision, and the subdivision may use and expend the moneys for any purpose or purposes authorized by the sections of the Revised Code under which it has been organized. As used in this section, "new political subdivision" does not include the following: any sewer district organized under any provisions of the Revised Code; any sanitary district organized under Chapter 6115. of the Revised Code; or any joint county ditches or any interstate county ditches organized under any provisions of the Revised Code.

If no petition for the organization of a new political subdivision is filed within one year after the receipt of the money by the treasurer, the treasurer shall, at the expiration of the one-year period, transfer all moneys in the conservancy district fund to a special fund of the county to be held and used for drainage, flood control, water conservation, water supply, or water management purposes in the areas of the county from which the moneys were originally derived. If the proposed political subdivision, for the establishment of which a petition has been filed within the one-year period, is not established or organized, the treasurer shall make the same disposition of the moneys in the conservancy district fund.

Section 6101.45 | Defects not to invalidate proceedings except where denial of justice results.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

After the filing of a petition for the organization of a conservancy district, and before the district is organized, the costs of publication and other official costs of the proceedings shall be paid out of the general funds of the county in which the petition is pending. The payment shall be made on the warrant of the county auditor or on the order of the court. If the district is organized, the costs shall be repaid to the county out of the first funds received by the district through levying of assessments, selling of bonds, or borrowing of money. If the district is not organized, the cost shall be collected from the petitioners or their bondspersons. Upon the organization of the district, the court shall make an order indicating a preliminary division of the preliminary expenses between the counties included in the district in approximately the proportions of interest of the various counties as estimated by the court. The court shall issue an order to the auditor of each county to issue a warrant upon the county treasurer of the county to reimburse the county having paid the total cost.

As soon as any district has been organized and a board of directors of the conservancy district has been appointed and qualified, the board may levy upon the property within the district in each of not more than two years a preliminary assessment, based upon the benefit determined by the court as provided by section 6101.08 of the Revised Code, but not to exceed three-tenths of a mill on the assessed valuation of the property, to be used for the purpose of paying expenses of organization, for surveys and plans, appraisals, estimates of cost, and land options, and for other incidental expenses that may be necessary up to the time money is received from the sale of bonds or otherwise. This assessment shall be certified to the auditors of the various counties and by them to the respective treasurers of their counties. If the items of expense have already been paid in whole or in part from other sources, they may be repaid from the receipts of the levy, and the levy may be made although the work proposed may have been found impracticable or for other reasons is abandoned. The collection of the assessment shall conform in all matters to the sections of the Revised Code governing the collection of assessments levied by local political subdivisions, and the sections of the Revised Code concerning the nonpayment of assessments levied by local political subdivisions shall apply. The board may borrow money in any manner provided for in this chapter and may pledge the receipts from the assessments for its repayment, the information collected by the necessary surveys, the appraisal of benefits and damages, and other information and data being of real value and constituting benefits for which the assessment may be levied. In case a district is disbanded for any cause before the work is constructed, the data, plans, and estimates which have been secure shall be filed with the clerk of the court before which the district was organized and shall be matters of public record available to any person interested.

The board shall, upon levying the preliminary assessment, certify to the director of natural resources an estimate of the amount of money the district will need to pay expenses of organization, for surveys and plans, appraisals, estimates of cost, and land options, and for other incidental expenses up to the time money is received by the district from the sale of bonds or otherwise. The director, within sixty days after the receipt of the certification, shall, upon finding that the organization and operation of the district contribute to the general welfare of the state, determine an equitable percentage of the amount so certified to be paid by the state. The director shall certify the determination to the board and shall cause to be paid to the district, out of any moneys appropriated to the department of natural resources for the purpose of assisting conservancy districts to pay expenses of organization, for surveys and plans, estimates of cost, and land options, and for other incidental expenses, the amount determined by the director to be the equitable share of the state in meeting the expenses. The director shall make available to the board all plans, data, surveys, or other information, which the department of natural resources or any division of it may have, which will be beneficial to the board in furthering the purposes for which the district is organized.

Section 6101.46 | Directors may borrow money and issue notes.

• Effective: May 13, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 114th General Assembly

In order to facilitate the preliminary work, the board of directors of a conservancy district may borrow money and issue notes therefor at a rate or rates of interest not exceeding the rate provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code and in an amount not greater than seventy-five per cent of the unencumbered proceeds derived or derivable from the preliminary assessment levied, or which the board has authority to levy, under section 6101.45 of the Revised Code, which assessment shall be pledged for the repayment thereof if and when levied. If no preliminary assessment is levied or the proceeds of the assessment levied are found insufficient to pay the interest and retire the notes issued, the same may be paid from the improvement fund. At any time after the levy of a preliminary assessment, on request of the board of directors and authorization by the board of county commissioners, the county auditor of any county having lands within the district shall make advances to the district from the general fund of the county, or from the undistributed proceeds of such assessment, not in excess of the amount of such assessment levied and collectible within the county.

This section does not apply to or affect the validity of any warrants, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued prior to July 19, 1937, under authority of this section.

Such warrants, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness may be renewed for a period not to exceed two years, and such renewal obligations may at the option of the board of directors be exchanged for outstanding obligations or sold at private or public sale according to the law governing the original issue.

Section 6101.48 | Directors to levy assessments.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

After the conservancy appraisal record as approved by the court, or that part of it from which no appeal is pending, has been filed with the secretary of the conservancy district as provided in section 6101.37 of the Revised Code, from time to time, as the affairs of the district demand it, the board of directors of the conservancy district shall levy on all real property and on all public corporations, upon which benefits have been appraised, an assessment of the portion of the benefits that is found necessary by the board to pay the cost of the execution of the official plan, including superintendence of construction and administration, plus one-ninth of that total to be added for contingencies, but not to exceed in the total of principal the appraised benefits so adjudicated.

The assessment shall be apportioned to and levied on each tract of land or other property and each public corporation in the district in proportion to the benefits appraised, and not in excess of the benefits appraised. Interest at a rate not to exceed the rate provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code, payable semiannually, shall be included in and added to the assessment, but the interest shall not be considered as a part of the cost in determining whether or not the expenses and costs of making the improvement are equal to or in excess of the benefits appraised.

After the assessment is levied, the board shall report it to the court for confirmation. Upon the entry of the order of the court confirming the assessment, the clerk of the court shall transmit a certified copy of the order to the governing or taxing body of each political subdivision assessed, and the governing or taxing body shall receive and file the order. Thereafter, the board may order the issuance of notes in an amount not exceeding ninety per cent of the assessment in anticipation of the collection of the assessment.

After the court has confirmed the assessment, the secretary of the conservancy district, at the expense of the district, shall prepare an assessment record named "Conservancy Assessment Record of ....... District." It shall contain a notation of the items of property appraised and the public corporations to which benefits have been appraised, the total amount of benefits appraised against each item or public corporation, and the total assessment levied against each item or public corporation. If successive levies of assessment are made for the execution of the official plan and the acquisition or construction of improvements, the conservancy assessment record shall contain suitable notations to show the number of levies and the amount of each, to the end that the conservancy assessment record may disclose the aggregate of all such levies made up to that time.

Upon the completion of the conservancy assessment record, it shall be signed and certified by the president of the board and by the secretary of the conservancy district and placed on file and shall become a permanent record in the office of the district. After the expiration of the thirty-day period for the payment of assessments as provided by section 6101.49 of the Revised Code, a copy of that part of the conservancy assessment record affecting lands or public corporations in any county shall be filed with the county auditor of the county.

If it is found at any time that the total amount of assessments levied is insufficient to pay the cost of works set out in the official plan or of additional work done, the board may make an additional levy to provide funds to complete the work, provided the total of all levies of the assessment exclusive of interest does not exceed the total of benefits appraised.

For tax years 2020 to 2024, qualifying real property, as defined in section 727.031 of the Revised Code, is exempt from special assessments levied under this section, provided no delinquent special assessments and related interest and penalties are levied or assessed against any property owned by the owner and operator of the qualifying real property for that tax year.

Last updated July 30, 2021 at 4:15 PM

Section 6101.49 | Paying assessments.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

When the conservancy assessment record is placed on file in the office of the conservancy district, notice by publication shall be given to property owners and public corporations assessed that they may pay their assessments. Any owner of real property or public corporation assessed for the execution of the official plan under this chapter may pay the assessment to the treasurer of the conservancy district within thirty days from the time the assessment is placed on file in the office of the district, and the amount to be so paid shall be ninety per cent of the full principal amount of the assessment exclusive of any amount added to it to meet interest. When the assessment has been paid, the secretary of the conservancy district shall enter upon the assessment record opposite each item for which payment is made, the amount paid and the words "paid in full," and the assessment shall be deemed satisfied. The payment of the assessment does not relieve the landowner or public corporation from the necessity for the payment of a maintenance assessment or from payment of any further assessment that may be necessary as provided in this chapter. Any property owner or public corporation failing to pay assessments in full as provided for in this section shall be deemed to have consented to the issuance of bonds as provided for under this chapter and to payment of interest on them. If any assessment is twenty-five dollars or less, or whenever the unpaid balance of any assessment is twenty-five dollars or less, the assessment or balance shall be paid in full, and not in installments, at the time the first or next installment would otherwise become due and payable.

After the expiration of the period of thirty days within which the property owners and public corporations may pay their respective assessments, as limited in this section, the treasurer of the conservancy district shall certify to the board of directors of the conservancy district the aggregate of the amount so paid, and the board then shall pass and spread upon its records a resolution in which shall be stated the total amount of the assessment and the amount of it paid. The board shall, in the same resolution, apportion the total of the unpaid assessments into annual installments and provide for the collection of interest upon the unpaid installments. Thereafter, it may order the issuance of bonds in an amount not exceeding ninety per cent of the unpaid assessment in anticipation of the collection of the installments. The residue of the assessment so levied, not less than ten per cent, shall constitute a contingent account to protect the bonds from casual default, and any part of it in excess of the sum of the next two installments of semiannual interest and ten per cent of the next installment of maturing bond principal, if not needed for this purpose, may be used for the purchase and retirement of bonds of the district at not to exceed par and accrued interest or for the reduction of the rate of assessment in succeeding years.

Section 6101.50 | Issuing anticipatory bonds and notes.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The board of directors of a conservancy district may, if in its judgment it seems best, issue bonds in an amount not to exceed ninety per cent of the total amount of the unpaid portion of an assessment, exclusive of interest, levied under this chapter, to mature at annual or semiannual intervals within thirty years. Whenever the board determines to issue bonds in anticipation of the collection of the installments of an assessment, it shall adopt a resolution, to be known as the resolution of necessity, declaring the necessity of the bond issue, its purpose, and its amount. Thereafter, prior to and in anticipation of the issuance and sale of those bonds, the board may borrow money and issue notes. Whenever the board determines to issue notes, it shall adopt a resolution, to be known as the note resolution. The note resolution shall do all of the following:

(1) State the principal amount or maximum principal amount of anticipatory notes to be issued and outstanding, not to exceed the amount of the bond issue;

(2) Provide for, or provide the method for, establishing or determining from time to time the rate or rates of interest or the maximum rate or rates of interest to be paid on the anticipatory notes;

(3) State the date or dates of the anticipatory notes;

(4) Establish provisions, if any, for redemption or prepayment of the anticipatory notes, in whole or in part, before maturity;

(5) Provide the maturity date of the anticipatory notes, which shall not be later than five years from the date of the first issue of the notes.

(B) All anticipatory notes issued for less than five years may be renewed from time to time until the expiration of five years from the date of original issue. After the expiration of five years from the date of original issue, if any annual installments of the assessments have been collected or are in process of collection, the board may renew or continue to renew its anticipatory notes from time to time until the board by a bonding resolution declares the necessity of issuing bonds.

Whenever notes have been issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, the proceeds of the bonds when issued and sold and of the assessment pursuant to which the bonds are issued shall be applied to the payment of the notes and interest on the notes until both are fully paid.

(C)(1) If the board determines not to issue anticipatory notes, or if anticipatory notes are issued and they are about to fall due, the board shall adopt a resolution, to be known as the bonding resolution. The bonding resolution shall do all of the following:

(a) Declare the necessity of the bonds presently to be issued, their purpose, and their amount, in accordance with the prior resolution of necessity;

(b) State or provide for the date of the bonds, and the dates and amounts or maximum amounts of maturities or principal payments on the bonds;

(c) State any provision for a mandatory sinking fund or mandatory sinking fund redemption or for redemption prior to maturity;

(d) Provide for the rate or rates of interest or maximum rate or rates of interest to be paid on the bonds or, if otherwise authorized, the method for establishing or determining from time to time the rate or rates of interest to be paid on the bonds;

(e) State any provision for a designated officer of the district to determine any of the specific terms required by this division to be stated in the bonding resolution, subject to any limitations stated in the bonding resolution.

(2) When anticipatory notes are not issued, the resolution of necessity may be incorporated in and made a part of the bonding resolution.

(D)(1) Anticipatory notes and bonds may be sold by competitive bid or at private sale in a manner determined or authorized by the board, but they shall not be sold for less than ninety-seven per cent of their principal amount, plus accrued interest. As used in this division, "bid" has the same meaning as in division (C) of section 133.30 of the Revised Code.

(2) All moneys from premiums and accrued interest shall be paid into the bond retirement fund.

(3) Bonds and anticipatory notes shall be signed by the president of the board and be attested by the signature of the secretary of the district. If any of the officers whose signatures, countersignatures, or certificates appear upon bonds, notes, or coupons issued pursuant to this chapter ceases to be that officer before the delivery of the bonds or notes to the purchaser, the signatures, countersignatures, or certificates shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes, as if the officer had remained in office until the delivery of the bonds or notes.

Bonds shall show on their face the purpose for which they are issued, and shall be payable out of money derived from the bond retirement fund. All assessments the collection of which has been anticipated by the issuance of bonds or notes shall, when collected, be paid into the bond retirement fund for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of bonds and notes and for no other purpose. The expenses incurred in paying bonds and interest on bonds shall be paid out of the other funds in the hands of the treasurer of the conservancy district and collected for the purpose of meeting the expenses of administration.

(E) The board may issue anticipatory notes or bonds to fund or refund previously issued notes or bonds. These anticipatory notes or bonds shall be issued pursuant to a note resolution or bonding resolution as described in division (A) or (C) of this section.

Moneys derived from the proceeds of anticipatory notes and bonds issued under this division and any moneys derived from other sources and required for the funding or refunding of the previously issued notes or bonds shall be placed, under an escrow agreement or otherwise and to the extent required by the resolution, in an escrow fund. The escrow fund may be an account in the bond retirement fund if the previously issued notes or bonds are payable within ninety days of the issuance of the anticipatory notes or bonds under this division. The moneys in the escrow fund shall be pledged and used for the purpose of funding or refunding the previously issued notes or bonds.

(F) Pending their use under division (E) of this section, the moneys in the escrow fund referred to in that division shall be invested in direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to payment by, the United States that mature, or are subject to redemption by and at the option of the holder, not later than the date or dates when the moneys in the escrow fund, together with interest or other investment income accrued on those moneys, are required for the payment of debt charges on the previously issued notes or bonds under division (E) of this section. Any moneys in the escrow fund that are not needed for the payment of debt charges on the previously issued notes or bonds shall be transferred to the bond retirement fund. For purposes of this division, "direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed as to payment by, the United States" includes rights to receive payment or portions of payments of the principal of, or interest or other investment income on, those obligations and other obligations fully secured as to payment by those obligations and the interest or other investment income on those obligations.

(G) When the moneys, including the interest or other investment income on the moneys, in the escrow fund referred to in division (E) of this section are determined by an independent public accounting firm to be sufficient for the payment of the debt charges on the previously issued notes or bonds under that division, the following conditions shall apply:

(1) The previously issued notes or bonds shall no longer be considered outstanding.

(2) The previously issued notes or bonds shall no longer be considered for purposes of determining any direct or indirect limitation on the indebtedness or net indebtedness of the district.

(3) The levy of special assessments or other charges for the payment of the debt charges on the previously issued notes or bonds under this chapter, Chapter 5705. of the Revised Code, or other provisions of the Revised Code is not required.

(H) The board in making the annual assessment levy shall take into account the maturing bonds and interest on all bonds, and shall make ample provision in advance for the payment of those bonds and that interest.

In case the proceeds of the original assessments made under section 6101.48 of the Revised Code are not sufficient to pay the principal and interest of all bonds issued, the board shall make additional levies as necessary for this purpose, and under no circumstances shall any assessment levies be made that will in any manner or to any extent impair the security of the bonds or the fund available for the payment of the principal and interest of the bonds.

Section 6101.501 | Issuing bonds to pay costs of improvement.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

A conservancy district or a subdistrict of it may issue revenue bonds for the purpose of paying all or part of the cost of acquiring or constructing any improvement that the district or subdistrict is authorized to acquire or construct, and the improvement may include equipment, land or interests in land, and facilities necessary or appropriate to the improvement. The bonds shall be secured only by a pledge of, and lien upon, the portion as the board of directors of the conservancy district determines of the revenues derived from fees, rates, and charges for the use of any facilities or services of the district or subdistrict, after the payment of costs and expenses of operation and maintenance of the facilities, and the covenant of the district or subdistrict to maintain sufficient fees, rates, and charges to produce adequate revenues to pay the costs and expenses and for the payment of the bonds. The bonds shall be negotiable instruments, but shall not constitute general obligations of the district or subdistrict.

The bonds shall bear interest at not to exceed the rate provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code, payable semiannually, shall mature in annual or semiannual installments within forty years from their date, and may be made callable and, if so issued, may be refunded. The bonds shall be signed by the president of the board and attested by the signature of the secretary of the district, provided that one of the signatures may be a facsimile. Any interest coupons attached to the bonds shall bear the facsimile signatures of the president and secretary. In case any officer who has signed the bonds or caused the officer's facsimile signature to be affixed to the bonds ceases to be that officer before the bonds so signed have been actually delivered, the bonds, nevertheless, may be issued and delivered as though the person who had signed the bonds, or caused the person's facsimile signature to be affixed to the bonds, had not ceased to be that officer; any such bonds may be executed on behalf of the district by an officer who, at the actual date of execution of the bonds, is the proper officer of the district, although at the date of the bonds the person was not an officer. The bonds may be sold as provided in section 6101.50 of the Revised Code and shall be registrable as provided in section 6101.52 of the Revised Code.

In the discretion of the board of directors, the revenue bonds may be further secured by a trust agreement between the board and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state. The trust agreement may pledge or assign revenues to the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds and reserves for the bonds, but shall not convey or mortgage any property of the district or subdistrict. Any such trust agreement may contain provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as are reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including provisions for issue of additional revenue bonds to be secured ratably with any revenue bonds previously or subsequently issued, covenants setting forth the duties of the board in relation to the acquisition, improvement, maintenance, operation, repair, and insurance of the facilities in connection with which the bonds are authorized, the custody, safeguarding, and application of all revenues and moneys, the insurance of moneys on hand or on deposit, the rights and remedies of the trustee and the holders of the bonds, including in them provisions restricting the individual right of action of bondholders as is customary in trust agreements respecting bonds and debentures of corporations, the security to be given by those who contract to construct the project and by any bank or trust company in which the proceeds of bonds or revenues are deposited, and other provisions as the board considers reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders. All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of any such trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of maintenance, operation, and repair of the facilities for which the bonds were issued.

The board shall covenant and agree to maintain, so long as there are outstanding any such bonds payable from revenues, adequate fees and charges for the use of the facilities or services from which the revenues are derived for the payment of the principal and interest on the bonds and for the creation and maintenance of reserves for that payment and reserves for operation, maintenance, replacement, and renewal.

If the revenues pledged to pay revenue bonds prove insufficient to pay maturing bonds, bonds that have matured or are about to mature may be refunded, provided that the refunding bonds so issued shall mature in not more than fifteen years after issuance; or all of the outstanding bonds, both matured and unmatured, of any such issue may be refunded if the outstanding bonds can be retired by call for redemption or with the consent of the holders, either from the proceeds of the sale of the refunding bonds or by exchange, provided that the refunding bonds shall not exceed in amount the par value of the bonds to be refunded plus the redemption price in excess of par value, if any, required to be paid upon their call for redemption, and the maturity of the refunding bonds shall not exceed forty years after their issuance.

The terms and provisions of any such refunding bonds, the method of their issue, and the documents to be executed for the security of them shall be as provided for an original issue of revenue bonds, except that they may mature in one or more installments and contain provisions for sinking fund and for calls from sinking fund as the board of directors may determine, and except that they may be exchanged in whole or in part for the bonds to be refunded.

Section 6101.51 | Issuing revenue bonds.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The treasurer of a conservancy district, at the time of taking office, shall execute to the district and deliver to the president of the board of directors of the district, a bond with good and sufficient sureties, to be approved by the board, conditioned that the treasurer shall account for and pay over as required by law, and as ordered by the board, all money received by the treasurer on the sale of bonds and notes or from any other source, that the treasurer only shall deliver the bonds and notes to the purchasers under and according to the terms prescribed in this section and section 6101.50 of the Revised Code, and that, when ordered by the board to do so, the treasurer shall return to the board, duly canceled, any bonds and notes not sold, which bonds and notes shall remain in the custody of the board, which shall produce them for inspection or for use as evidence whenever and wherever legally requested to do so. The cost of the bond of the treasurer shall be paid by the board from the funds of the district. The board shall make appropriations at the proper time for the payment of the maturing bonds and notes of the district and the interest payments coming due on all bonds and notes sold, and the treasurer of the district shall place sufficient funds at the place of payment to pay them. If proper appropriations are not made by the board as provided in this section, the treasurer of the district of the treasurer's own accord shall place funds at the place of payment and report that action to the next meeting of the board. The canceled bonds and coupons, receipted notes, and receipts of the treasurer shall be evidence of such payment.

The successor in office of any treasurer of a conservancy district is not entitled to take over the assets of the treasury until the treasurer has complied with this section. Moneys derived from the sale of bonds and from all other sources shall be deposited by the treasurer In accordance with sections 135.01 to 135.21 of the Revised Code. The funds derived from the sale of any of the bonds and notes shall be used only for paying the cost of the properties, works, and improvements and costs, expenses, fees, and salaries authorized by law.

The district may secure the payment of loans from the United States government in the same manner as it may secure the payment of bonds, and the board may make any necessary regulations to provide for that payment.

A party who has not sought a remedy against any proceeding under this chapter, until bonds or notes have been sold or the work constructed, cannot for any cause have an injunction against the collection of assessments for the payment of the bonds or notes.

When consideration for bonds is received by the district, the bonds shall not be invalid for any irregularity or defect in the proceedings for their issuance and sale, and shall be incontestable in the hands of bona fide purchasers or holders of the bonds for value. No proceedings in respect to the issuance of any bonds are necessary except as required by this chapter.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section governing the deposit or investment of moneys of a conservancy district, the board of directors of a district, for the purpose of providing for the investment of the moneys on the district's behalf, may order the treasurer of the district to invest moneys of the district in the Ohio subdivision's fund authorized to be created under section 135.45 of the Revised Code. Any such investments in the fund are subject to and governed by that section and rules adopted under it.

Section 6101.52 | Duties of treasurer.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Whenever the owner of any coupon bond issued pursuant to this chapter presents the bond to the treasurer of the conservancy district with a request for the conversion of the bond into a bond registered as to principal and interest, the treasurer shall cut off and cancel the coupons of the coupon bond presented, and shall stamp, print, or write upon the coupon bond, either upon the back or the face of it or in blanks provided for the purpose a dated and signed statement to the effect that the bond is registered as to principal and interest in the name of the owner and that thereafter the interest and principal of the bond are payable to the registered owner. Upon request of an owner similarly made for registration of any coupon bond as to principal only, the treasurer of the district shall similarly record on the bond a statement to the effect that the bond is registered as to principal and that thereafter the principal of the bond is payable to the registered owner. Thereafter, and from time to time, any bond so registered as to principal and interest or as to principal only may be transferred by the registered owner in person or by attorney duly authorized on presentation of the bond to the treasurer of the district and the bond again registered as before, a similar statement being stamped, printed, or written on it. If the bond is so registered, the principal and interest of the bond or the principal of it, if registered as to principal only, shall be payable to the registered owner. Upon request of the owner of any registered bond, the bond may be discharged from registration by being in like manner transferred and made payable to bearer and, if the bond has been registered as to interest, by attaching to it reproductions of the original interest coupons thereafter payable; but the cost of reproducing and attaching the coupons shall be paid by the owner of the bond. The treasurer of the district shall enter in a register of such bonds to be kept by the treasurer the fact of the registration of the bond and the name of the registered owner of it so that the register at all times shows what bonds are registered, the kind of registration, and the name of the registered owner.

Section 6101.53 | Conservancy maintenance assessment.

• Effective: September 30, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly

To maintain, operate, and preserve the reservoirs, ditches, drains, dams, levies, canals, sewers, pumping stations, treatment and disposal works, or other properties or improvements acquired or made pursuant to this chapter, to strengthen, repair, and restore the same, when needed, and to defray the current expenses of the conservancy district, the board of directors of the district may, upon the substantial completion of the improvements and on or before the thirtieth day of September in each year thereafter, levy an assessment upon each tract or parcel of land and upon each public corporation within the district, subject to assessments under this chapter, to be known as a conservancy maintenance assessment. No assessment shall be made with respect to works and improvements acquired or constructed for the purpose of providing a water supply for domestic, industrial, and public use within the district, when the water supply can be metered or measured when furnished to persons or public corporations. If the district, for the benefit of one or more persons or political subdivisions, provides a water supply that recharges underground aquifers and thereby replenishes wells or provides a source of water for new wells, or increases the natural low flow of a stream used for water supply, or creates an impoundment, in such a way that the augmented use of water cannot be metered or measured for individual or public consumption, the board may make a maintenance assessment against benefited property and public corporations in the same manner provided in this section for maintenance of other properties or improvements.

The maintenance assessment shall be apportioned upon the basis of the total appraisal of benefits accruing for original and subsequent construction, shall not exceed one per cent of the total appraisal of benefits in any one year unless the court by its order authorizes an assessment of a larger percentage, shall not be less than two dollars, and shall be certified to the county auditor of each county in which lands of the district are located in the conservancy assessment record but in a separate column in like manner and at the same time as the annual installment of the assessment levied under section 6101.48 of the Revised Code is certified, under the heading maintenance assessment. The auditor shall certify the same to the county treasurer of the county at the same time that the auditor certifies the annual installment of the assessments levied under that section, and the sum of the levies for any tract or public corporation may be certified as a single item. The treasurer shall demand and collect the maintenance assessment and make return of it, and shall be liable for the same penalties for failure to do so as are provided for the annual installment of the assessment levied under section 6101.48 of the Revised Code.

The amount of the maintenance assessment paid by any parcel of land or public corporation shall not be credited against the benefits assessed against the parcel of land or public corporation, but the maintenance assessment shall be in addition to any assessment that has been or can be levied under section 6101.48 of the Revised Code.

To maintain, operate, and preserve the works and improvements of the district acquired or constructed for the purpose of providing a water supply, to strengthen, repair, and restore the same, and to defray the current expenses of the district for this purpose, the board may impose rates for the sale of water to public corporations and persons within the district. The rates to be charged for the water shall be fixed and adjusted by the board at intervals of not less than one year, so that the income thus produced will be adequate to provide a maintenance fund for the purpose of water supply. Contracts for supplying water to public corporations and persons shall be entered into before the service is rendered by the district. Contracts shall specify the maximum quantity of water to be furnished to the public corporation or person, and the quantity shall be fixed so as equitably to distribute the supply. Preference shall be given to water supply furnished to public corporations for domestic and public uses. Bills for water supplied to public corporations shall be rendered at regular intervals and shall be payable from the waterworks fund of the public corporation or, if it is not sufficient, from the general fund.

For tax years 2020 to 2024, qualifying real property, as defined in section 727.031 of the Revised Code, is exempt from special assessments levied under this section, provided no delinquent special assessments and related interest and penalties are levied or assessed against any property owned by the owner and operator of the qualifying real property for that tax year.

Last updated July 30, 2021 at 4:15 PM

Section 6101.54 | Readjustment of appraisal of benefits.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Whenever the owners or representatives of twenty-five per cent or more of the acreage or value of the lands in a conservancy district or the board of directors of a conservancy district file a petition with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction in the original case, stating that there has been a material change in the values of the property in the district or additional benefits are being derived from the works and the improvements of the district since the last previous appraisal of benefits, and praying for a readjustment of the appraisal of benefits for the purpose of making a more equitable basis for the levy of the maintenance assessment under section 6101.53 of the Revised Code, the clerk shall give notice of the filing and of a hearing of the petition by publication.

Upon hearing of the petition, if the court finds there has been a material change in the values of property in the district, or that additional benefits are derived from the works and improvements of the district, or both, since the last previous appraisal of benefits, the court shall order that there be a readjustment of the appraisal of benefits for the purpose of providing a basis upon which to levy the maintenance assessment of the district. The court then shall direct the board of appraisers of the conservancy district to make the readjustment in the manner provided in this chapter, and the board shall make its report. The same proceedings shall be had on it, as nearly as may be, as are provided in this chapter for the appraisal of benefits accruing for original construction. In making the readjustment of the appraisal of benefits, the readjusted appraisal shall not be limited to the aggregate amount of or to the benefits or properties or persons listed in the original or any previous appraisal of benefits, and, after the making of the readjustment, the limitation of the annual maintenance assessment to one per cent of the total appraised benefits, but not less than two dollars, shall apply to the amount of the benefits as readjusted. There shall be no readjustment of benefits more often than once in six years.

Section 6101.55 | Annual levy.

• Effective: September 23, 2008
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 562 - 127th General Assembly

The board of directors of a conservancy district shall each year after the original assessment has been levied determine, order, and levy the annual levy, which shall include all assessments, or installments of assessments, together with interest, levied under this chapter, which become due in the ensuing year. The annual levy shall be due and be collected at the same time that state and county taxes are due and collected. After bonds have been sold, in the determination of an annual levy, the rate of interest upon the unpaid installments of an assessment shall be the rate borne by the bonds that have been issued and sold pursuant to the assessment. The annual levy shall be recorded in the conservancy assessment record, shall be signed and certified by the president of the board and by the secretary of the conservancy district not later than the thirtieth day of September each year, and shall thereafter become a permanent record in the office of the district.

The certificate of the annual levy shall be substantially as set forth in section 6101.84 of the Revised Code. Then shall follow both of the following:

(A) The descriptions of the property opposite the names of the owners;

(B) The total amount of the annual levy on each piece of property and on each public corporation for the account of all funds and the amount of each item making up the total.

The form of the annual levy portion of the conservancy assessment record as prescribed in this section may be modified with the approval of the auditor of state. The certificate of the annual levy and the annual levy portion of the conservancy assessment record shall be named " Assessment Record of ________________ District, _________________ County, Ohio."

One copy of that part of the assessment record affecting lands and public corporations in any county shall be forwarded to the county auditor of that county. The auditor of each county shall set up as a charge upon the county treasurer the total amount of assessments levied as shown by the assessment record, and shall certify the record as other tax records to the county treasurer of the county. The treasurer shall collect the amount according to law. The assessment record shall be the treasurer's warrant and authority to demand and receive the assessments due in the county as found in the record.

In the event of any failure of the board to determine and order an annual levy for the purpose of paying the interest and principal of any bonds pursuant to this chapter, the auditor of the county in which the lands and public corporations subject to the assessments are situated shall make and complete a levy of the special assessments necessary for the purpose against the lands and public corporations in the district, and each piece of property in that county against which benefits have been appraised. Any assessment so made and completed by the auditor shall be made and completed by the auditor in the manner provided for the making and completion of an assessment by the board, and shall have the same effect as a levy of assessments determined and ordered by the board.

Section 6101.56 | Borrowing in anticipation of collection of assessments.

• Effective: May 13, 1981
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 114th General Assembly

In anticipation of the collection of assessments for any year levied under sections 6101.53 and 6101.55 of the Revised Code, the board of directors of a conservancy district may borrow money and issue notes therefor; but the aggregate of such loans made in any year shall not exceed one half of the total amount estimated by the county auditors of the several counties in the district to be received from the collection of the assessments for such year, after deduction of all advances from such collection. Such estimate shall state separately the amount to be received from each semiannual division of such collection. A sufficient amount for the payment of such notes at maturity, together with interest thereon, shall be deemed appropriated from the proceeds of such anticipated collection and shall be used for no other purpose. The notes shall be for a term not longer than six months and shall bear interest at a rate not to exceed the rate provided in section 9.95 of the Revised Code and the proceeds therefrom shall be used only for the purposes for which the assessments were levied and appropriated. No district shall borrow money or issue notes in anticipation of the proceeds of the first semiannual division of such collection before the first day of January of the year of such collection, nor in anticipation of the proceeds of the second division of such semiannual collection before the first day of July of the year of such collection.

Section 6101.57 | Collecting assessments.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Each county treasurer charged with collection of assessments shall make due report to the county auditor of the sums collected by the treasurer, and the auditor shall issue a warrant payable to the treasurer of the conservancy district for all sums of money in the hands of the county treasurer, according to the report. The auditor, as soon as the records for collection are closed by the county treasurer according to law, shall make report to the treasurer of the district of the sums collected, and of the assessments not collected, as returned to the auditor by the county treasurer by the first day of December of each year.

Except as otherwise provided in section 6101.59 of the Revised Code, the laws with respect to delinquent assessments shall apply to all assessments provided for in this chapter, which remain unpaid when the county treasurer closes the treasurer's assessment records, and the delinquent assessments are subject to the same rate of interest and penalty as provided by law for delinquent assessments of other political subdivisions.

Section 6101.58 | County treasurer's bond.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Before receiving the assessment record provided for by section 6101.55 of the Revised Code, the county treasurer of each county in which lands or other property of the conservancy district are located shall execute to the district and deliver to the board of directors of the district a bond with a surety company authorized to conduct a surety business in this state as surety, which bond shall be paid for by the district, in a sum prescribed by the board and approved by the court, conditioned that the treasurer shall pay over and account for all assessments collected by the treasurer according to law. The bond after approval by the board shall be deposited with the secretary of the district, who shall be custodian of the bond. The secretary shall produce the bond for inspection and use as evidence whenever and wherever lawfully requested to do so.

Section 6101.59 | Conservancy district assessment constitutes lien.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

All conservancy district assessments provided for in this chapter, together with all penalties and interest for default in payment of the assessments, and all costs in collecting the assessments, including a reasonable attorney's fee, to be fixed by the court and taxed as costs in the action brought to enforce payment, from the date of filing the certificate described in this section in the office of the county auditor for the county in which the lands and properties or public corporations are located, until paid, shall constitute a lien, to which only the lien of the state for general state, county, municipal corporation, school, and road taxes shall be paramount, upon all the lands and other property or public corporation against which the assessments are levied as is provided in this chapter. No lands or properties to which the lien of the conservancy district assessments has attached shall be forfeited to the state pursuant to its lien for taxes except pursuant to section 5723.01 of the Revised Code. The lien of the conservancy district assessments may be evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form provided in section 6101.84 of the Revised Code. The certificate and tables shall be prepared in a record by the secretary of the conservancy district at the expense of the district.

Unless expressly declared to the contrary, no warranty in any warranty deed or in any deed made pursuant to a judicial sale shall warrant against any portion of any assessment levied under this chapter, except past and current installments payable in the year which the deed bears date.

Section 6101.60 | Enforcement of conservancy district liens.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The auditor's conservancy assessment record is prima-facie evidence in all courts of all matters contained in it. The liens established and declared in section 6101.59 of the Revised Code may be enforced at the option of the board of directors of the conservancy district by an action on delinquent assessment bills, made and certified by the county auditor, which action shall be instituted in the court of common pleas, without regard to the amount of the claim, within six months after the thirty-first day of December of the year for which the assessments were levied. The action shall be brought in the corporate name of the district by its attorney against the land, property, or public corporation on which the assessment has not been paid.

In the event of any default in the payment of the interest or principal of any bonds or notes issued pursuant to this chapter, and if the district or its proper officers fail to enforce the payment of any unpaid assessment, the holder of the bonds or notes may, for self and for the benefit of all others similarly situated, enforce the liens by action against the land, property, or public corporation on which the assessment has not been paid and against the district. The court shall have full power, jurisdiction, and authority to apply the assessment when collected in the payment of the interest or principal upon the bonds or notes as justice and equity require. The action shall be brought in the county in which the property or public corporation is located, except when the tract or property sued upon is in more than one county, in which case the action may be brought on the whole tract, parcel, or property, in any county in which any portion of it is located. The pleadings, process, proceedings, practice, and sales in cases arising under this chapter, except as provided in this chapter, shall be the same as in an action for the enforcement of the state's lien for delinquent general taxes upon real estate.

All sales of lands made under this section shall be by the sheriff as provided by law. All sheriff's deeds executed and delivered pursuant to this chapter shall have the same probative force as other deeds executed by a sheriff. Abbreviations shall not defeat the action. The title acquired through any sale of lands or other property under such proceedings shall be subject to the lien of all subsequent annual installments of an assessment.

In all actions for the collection of delinquent assessments, the judgment for the delinquent assessments and penalty and interest shall also include all costs of suit and a reasonable attorney's fee to be fixed by the court, recoverable the same as the delinquent tax and in the same action.

The proceeds of sales made under and by virtue of this chapter shall be paid at once to the county treasurer and shall be properly credited and accounted for by the treasurer the same as other assessments.

If any assessment made pursuant to this chapter is invalid, the board, by subsequent or amended acts or proceedings, shall promptly remedy all defects or irregularities as the case requires by making and providing for the collection of new assessments or otherwise.

Section 6101.61 | Annual levy procedures.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Whenever, under this chapter, the board of directors of a conservancy district has determined, ordered, and levied an annual levy in accordance with section 6101.55 of the Revised Code, the board shall certify to the governing or taxing body of each political subdivision assessed, a notice and statement of the annual levy, setting forth the total amount payable by the political subdivision and included in the annual levy and the items making up the total. The governing or taxing body shall receive and file the notice and shall promptly take all the legal and necessary steps to provide for the payment of the annual levy. The governing or taxing body shall include the amount of the annual levy in the tax budget for the ensuing year and shall levy and assess a tax at a uniform rate upon all the taxable property within the political subdivision so as to provide sufficient funds for the payment of the annual levy after deduction of any portion of the levy paid from other sources, and certify the tax to the county auditor. The proceeds of the tax when received by the political subdivision shall be deemed to be appropriated for the payment of the annual levy. The auditor shall receive the certificate of the tax levy and certify the levy for collection to the county treasurer, who shall collect the levy. All of the officers mentioned in this section are authorized and directed to take all the necessary steps for the levying, collection, and distribution of the tax.

This section does not prevent the assessment of the real estate of other corporations or persons situated within the political subdivisions which may be subject to assessment for special benefits to be received.

In the event of any dissolution or disincorporation of any conservancy district organized under this chapter, the dissolution or disincorporation shall not affect the lien of any assessment for the benefits imposed pursuant to this chapter, or the liability of any land or of any public corporation in the district to the levy of any future assessments for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of any bonds issued under this chapter. In the event of any such dissolution or disincorporation, in the event of any failure on the part of the officers of any district to qualify and act, or in the event of any resignations or vacancies in office, which prevent action by the district or by its proper officers, the county auditor and all other officers charged in any manner with the duty of assessing, levying, and collecting taxes for public purposes in any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision in which the lands are situated shall perform all acts that are necessary to the collection of any of the assessments that have been imposed and to the levying, imposing, and collecting of any assessment that it is necessary to make for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of the bonds. Any holder of any bonds issued pursuant to this chapter or any person or officer who is an interested party may, by action or mandamus, enforce and compel performance of the duties required by this chapter of any of the officers or persons mentioned in this chapter.

Section 6101.62 | Water department funds used to pay levy or assessment.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

To pay a portion of the amount of an assessment or annual levy of a conservancy district organized for the purpose of water supply, against any public corporation, the governing body or other taxing authority of such public corporation may appropriate any unappropriated funds of the water department of such public corporation. The aggregate of the amounts appropriated for such purpose during each successive five year period shall not exceed ninety per cent of the total amount of the annual levies collectible from such public corporation during such period. If the method provided for by section 6101.63 of the Revised Code is employed to reduce the amount of such annual levies, the combined aggregate amounts appropriated and paid from the funds of the water department under this section and section 6101.63 of the Revised Code during each successive five year period shall not exceed ninety per cent of the total amount of the annual levies which would have been collectible from such public corporation during such period without credit for payment of the additional rate provided for by section 6101.63 of the Revised Code. When funds of the water department are appropriated under this section, they shall be set aside and shall be disbursed for such purpose exclusively in the same manner as other funds of the water department are disbursed. Such use of funds of the water works of a municipal corporation shall be in addition to the uses permitted by sections 715.08, 735.29, 743.04, and 743.05 of the Revised Code. For the purpose of producing sufficient revenue to provide for such payment of assessments or annual levies of a district, in addition to the other expenses and obligations of the water department, the officers of such public corporation having authority to establish rates for water furnished by such public corporation may establish such rates as are necessary, and when so established sections 735.29 and 743.04 of the Revised Code shall apply in the assessment and collection of such rates. After an annual levy upon a public corporation has been certified to the county auditor by the board of directors of the conservancy district, the auditor shall thereupon give written notification thereof to the fiscal officers of such public corporation. Following such notification and prior to the certification by the county budget commission of its action upon the budget of such public corporation for the ensuing year, the fiscal officer of such public corporation shall pay to the county treasurer the amount previously so appropriated for payment of a portion of such annual levy. The treasurer shall receive such payment, shall properly credit it as a partial payment of such annual levy, and shall report such payment to the auditor who shall report it to the county budget commission for its guidance in acting upon the budget of the public corporation. The remaining portion of such annual levy not so paid shall become due from such public corporation and shall be collected by the treasurer at the same time that the state and county taxes are due and collected.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:28 PM

Section 6101.63 | Additional rate for water.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In addition to the uniform rates for water provided for by sections 6101.24 and 6101.53 of the Revised Code, the board of directors of a conservancy district, for the purpose of providing funds for bond retirement and interest, and thus accomplishing reduction in the amount to be collected through annual levy, may charge an additional rate for water furnished by the district to a public corporation or person within the district. The aggregate amount collected through such additional rate from any public corporation or person during each successive five year period shall not exceed ninety per cent of the total amount of annual levies which would be collectible from such public corporation or person during such period without such additional rate. Before such additional rate to a public corporation may be established, the governing body or other legislative authority thereof shall pass a resolution and shall certify a copy thereof to the board. Such resolution shall determine that an additional rate for water furnished to such public corporation by the district should be established for the purpose of accomplishing reduction of the amount payable by such public corporation through assessment or annual levy of such district, shall determine what percentage, as limited by this section, of the total amount of the annual levies upon such public corporation during a five year period or successive five year periods is to be paid through such additional rate, shall determine the number of years, which may be not less than five, for which such additional rate is to be effective, and shall request determination of such additional rate by the board. The board shall thereupon determine an additional rate in accordance with the basis and for the term of years set forth in said resolution. Upon determination of such additional rate to a public corporation or person by the board, the board shall report its determination to the court and thereafter all proceedings shall be had in the same manner as is provided by section 6101.24 of the Revised Code. Upon the final approval by the court of such additional rate, it shall be conclusive and binding. The officers of such public corporation having authority to establish rates for water furnished by such public corporation shall thereupon establish such rates as are necessary to produce sufficient revenue for the payment of such additional rate in addition to the other expenses and obligations of the water department of the public corporation. When such rates are so established, sections 735.29 and 743.04 of the Revised Code shall apply in the assessment and collection of such rates by the public corporation. Thereafter during the term for which the additional rate has been determined and approved by the court, such additional rate may be reduced upon determination of a reduced rate by the board and approval thereof by the court, after a hearing in the manner provided by section 6101.24 of the Revised Code.

Bills for such additional charges to a public corporation shall be rendered and payment made from the funds of the water-works department of such public corporation in the same manner as is provided by section 6101.53 of the Revised Code. The use of funds of the water-works department of a municipal corporation for the purpose of payment of such additional charges shall be in addition to the uses permitted by sections 715.08, 735.29, 743.04, and 743.05 of the Revised Code, and the governing body or other appropriating authority may appropriate funds of the water-works department for such purpose. Revenue received by the district through such additional rate shall be set apart in the bond fund and shall be appropriated by the board from time to time solely for the purpose of paying the principal and interest of bonds of the district.

Each year in determining, ordering, and levying an annual levy upon a public corporation or person within the district, as provided by section 6101.55 of the Revised Code, the board shall credit such public corporation or person with such amount as has been actually paid to the district through such additional rate and not previously credited, and such credit shall apply as a reduction of the amount of such annual levy upon such public corporation or person.

Section 6101.64 | Sewer rentals used to pay levy or assessment.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

For the purpose of payment of any portion of an annual levy made for the purpose of collection and disposal of sewage and liquid wastes, the governing body or other taxing authority of a public corporation assessed may appropriate and use moneys from the sewer fund derived from proceeds of sewer rentals collected under authority of sections 729.49 to 729.52, inclusive, of the Revised Code. Such use of the sewer fund shall be in addition to the uses permitted by section 729.52 of the Revised Code. After an annual levy upon a public corporation for the purpose of collection and disposal of sewage and liquid wastes has been certified to the county auditor by the board of directors of the conservancy district and notification thereof has been given to the governing or taxing body of such public corporation the procedures and requirements with reference to the payment of such annual levy shall be as set forth in section 6101.62 of the Revised Code.

Section 6101.65 | Failure to pay collected assessments.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

If any county treasurer or other person entrusted with the collection of assessments fails to make prompt payment of the assessments, or any part of them, when collected under this chapter to the treasurer of the conservancy district upon the presentation of a proper demand, the county treasurer or other person shall forfeit ten per cent on the amount of the delinquency. The forfeiture shall at once become due and payable, and both the county treasurer or other person and the sureties of the county treasurer or other person shall be liable for the failure on the official bond of the county treasurer or other person. The county treasurer shall retain for the treasurer's services one per cent of the amount the treasurer collects on delinquent assessments.

Section 6101.66 | Annual report of directors.

• Effective: July 1, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 201 - 116th General Assembly

After the close of each fiscal year, or oftener if the court so orders, the board of directors of the conservancy district shall make a report to the court of its proceedings and an accounting of receipts and disbursements of such year or period. There shall be an annual meeting of the full court for the presentation and examination of the annual report of the board. All such reports shall be filed with the clerk of the court as records of the court.

The auditor of state shall audit the accounts and reports of the district and shall file one copy of his audit report with the clerk of the court in the cause wherein the district was established and one copy with the secretary of the conservancy district.

Section 6101.67 | Compensation and expenses of directors and appraisers.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Each member of the board of directors of a conservancy district and each member of the board of appraisers of a conservancy district shall receive a sum established by the court and necessary expenses for the time actually employed in performing official duties. The compensation and expenses shall be paid only upon itemized statements submitted and certified to by the individual member.

Section 6101.68 | Lands included in more than one district.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The same land, if conducive to public health, safety, convenience, or welfare, may be included in more than one conservancy district and be subject to this chapter for each district in which it may be included. No district shall be organized under this chapter in whole or in part within the territory of a district already organized under this chapter until the court determines whether the public health, safety, convenience, or welfare demand the organization of an additional district, or whether it demands that the territory proposed to be organized into an additional district shall be added to the existing district. If the proceedings concerning two or more districts are before the court of common pleas of two or more counties, that determination shall be as provided in section 6101.69 of the Revised Code.

Section 6101.69 | Consolidation of districts.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

If any conservancy district is being organized within, or partly within and partly without, the same territory in which some other district has been or is being organized, one judge of the court of common pleas of each county in which the districts have been or are being organized shall confer at the earliest convenient moment after they ascertain the possibility of a conflict in jurisdiction, the sitting to be had in the county having the largest assessed valuation in the proposed district.

At the conference, the several judges shall determine to what extent the several districts should be consolidated or to what extent the boundaries should be adjusted in order to most fully carry out the purposes of this chapter. The judges shall by suitable orders make the determination effective. If notices have been issued or jurisdiction acquired in any proceeding concerning territory which is transferred to the court of common pleas of another county, the notices shall not become void, and jurisdiction so acquired shall not be lost; but, in each case, the court acquiring jurisdiction over the transferred territory shall hold the same without further notice, as if originally embraced in the district. At the conference, the decision of the majority of the judges shall be necessary for the determination of any matter, and, from the decision or from a failure to decide, appeal may be taken.

This section and section 6101.68 of the Revised Code do not operate to delay or to interrupt any proceeding under this chapter, until the question of jurisdiction has been finally determined by the courts.

Section 6101.70 | Petition for uniting districts by directors.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) If two or more conservancy districts have been organized in a territory which, in the opinion of the board of directors of the conservancy district of any one of the districts, should constitute only one district, the board of any one of the districts may petition the court for an order uniting those districts into a single district. The petition shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas of that county that has the greatest valuation of real property within the districts sought to be included, as shown by the tax duplicates of the respective counties. The petition shall set forth the necessity for the union of the two or more districts and that the union of the districts would be conducive to the public health, convenience, safety, or welfare and to the economical execution of the purposes for which the districts were organized. Upon receipt of the petition, the clerk shall give notice by publication or by personal service to the boards of the districts that it is desired to unite with the district of the petitioners. The notice shall contain the time and place where the hearing on the petition will be had and the purpose of the hearing. The hearing shall be had in accordance with this chapter as for an original hearing. If, after the hearing, the court finds that the averments of the petition are true and that the districts, or any of them, should be united, it shall so order, and thereafter those districts shall be united into one and proceed as one. The court shall designate the corporate name of the united district, and further proceedings shall be taken as provided for in this chapter. In accordance with division (A) or (B) of section 6101.10 of the Revised Code, as applicable, the court shall direct in the order who shall be the members of the board of the united district, who shall thereafter have the powers and be subject to the regulations as are provided for the board in districts created in the first instance.

(B) All legal proceedings already instituted by or against any of the constituent districts united into a single district under division (A) of this section may be revived and continued against the united district by an order of court substituting the name of the united district for the constituent district, and those proceedings shall then proceed as provided in this chapter.

(C) Instead of organizing a new district from the constituent districts, the court may do one of the following:

(1) Direct that one or more of the districts described in the petition be included into another of the districts, which other district shall continue under its original corporate name and organization, unless the resulting district includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties, in which case the court shall appoint two additional members whose appointments and terms of office shall comply with the requirements established in division (C) of section 6101.10 of the Revised Code;

(2) Direct that the districts absorbed as described in division (C)(1) of this section shall be represented on the board of the original district, designating what members of the board of the original district shall be retired from the new board and what members representing the included districts shall take their places, except that, if the resulting district includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties, the court also shall appoint two additional members whose appointments and terms of office shall comply with the requirements established in division (C) of section 6101.10 of the Revised Code;

(3) Direct that the included districts shall become subdistricts of the main district.

(D) If the districts sought to be united were organized in different counties, the court to determine the question involved shall consist of one judge from each of the counties in the court of which one of the districts was organized, and a majority shall be necessary to render a decision. From the decision or from a failure to decide, any interested property owner may appeal. No action under this section shall interrupt or delay any proceeding under this chapter, until the questions involved are finally determined.

Section 6101.71 | Petition for organizing subdistricts.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Whenever it is desired to construct improvements wholly within, or partly within and partly without, any conservancy district, which improvements will affect only a part of the district, for the purpose of accomplishing such work, subdistricts may be organized upon petition of the owners of real property, or the governing body of any political subdivision or watershed district created under section 6105.02 of the Revised Code, within, or partly within and partly without, the district, or upon petition of the board of directors of the district. The petition shall fulfill the same requirements concerning the subdistricts as the petition outlined in section 6101.05 of the Revised Code is required to fulfill concerning the organization of the main district, shall be filed with the clerk of the same court of common pleas, and shall be accompanied by a bond as provided for in section 6101.06 of the Revised Code. All proceedings relating to the organization of the subdistricts shall conform to the provisions of this chapter relating to the organization of districts, except that it shall not be necessary for the court to hold a preliminary meeting. The judge determining that a sufficient petition has been filed shall forthwith set a date for hearing, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the filing of the petition, and shall give notice of the hearing to the court of common pleas of each county included in whole or in part in the main district. The clerk of the court shall give notice of the hearing by publication in the counties included in whole or in part within the proposed subdistricts. Whenever the court by its order entered of record decrees subdistricts to be organized, the clerk of the court then shall give notice of the order to the board of directors of the conservancy district, which then shall act also as the board of directors of the subdistricts. Thereafter, the proceedings in reference to the subdistricts shall in all matters conform to this chapter, except that, in appraisal of benefits and damages for the purposes of the subdistricts, in the issuance of bonds or notes, in the levying of assessments, and in all other matters affecting only the subdistricts this chapter shall apply to each subdistrict as though it were an independent district, and it shall not, in these things, be amalgamated with the main district.

The board of directors, board of appraisers, chief engineer, attorney, secretary of the conservancy district, and other officers, agents, and employees of the district shall, so far as it is necessary, serve in the same capacities for each subdistrict, and contracts and agreements between the main district and each subdistrict may be made in the same manner as contracts and agreements between two districts. The distribution of administrative expense between the main district and each subdistrict shall be in proportion to the interests involved and the amount of service rendered. The division shall be made by the board of directors with an appeal to the court establishing the district. This section does not prevent the organization of independent districts for local improvements under other laws within the limits of a conservancy district organized under this chapter, as provided in sections 6101.68 and 6101.69 of the Revised Code.

Section 6101.72 | Annexing or absorbing territory.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any territory in which a proceeding has been instituted or is pending for the construction of a single or joint or interstate county ditch, or township ditch, or underground drain, or levee, or county sewer, or for the cleaning of drains and watercourses, or for the removal of drift, or for the drainage of marshes, or for any sewer district outside of a municipal corporation, organized under any other law of this state, may become a conservancy district or subdistrict under sections 6101.01 to 6101.84, inclusive, of the Revised Code, or may be absorbed in and amalgamated with any conservancy district in the following manner:

When the officials in charge of any such improvement or the board of directors of any conservancy district which desires to annex or absorb such territory petitions the court in which such conservancy district was organized, or the court having jurisdiction over all or part of the territory affected by the proceeding which is desired to bring under such sections, for an order making the territory affected by any of the improvements above noted a conservancy district or subdistrict under such sections, or for amalgamating such territory with an existing conservancy district, the clerk of the court shall give notice of the pendency of said petition and of a hearing thereon in the same manner as provided for notice and hearing on a petition for the organization of a conservancy district. At the time of such hearing the court shall hear the evidence and shall grant the petition or deny the same as seems most advantageous to all the interests affected thereby. The court in its order shall specify whether such territory shall be organized into a conservancy district or subdistrict, or whether it shall be absorbed in or amalgamated with an existing conservancy district. Thereafter the territory affected by said order and the improvements for which said territory was assessed, or for which contracts have been let therein, shall be subject to sections 6101.01 to 6101.84, inclusive, of the Revised Code, and all such orders and procedures shall be had as are necessary for fulfilling the requirements of such sections. No order of the court shall be made under this section which shall lessen the security of any issue of bonds or other obligations issued under this section or any other statute.

If a proceeding sought to be joined to or amalgamated with a proceeding under sections 6101.01 to 6101.84, inclusive, of the Revised Code, is under the jurisdiction of a court of common pleas other than the one having jurisdiction of the conservancy district, then at such hearing the judge or judges of the court of common pleas of the county or counties in which such ditch or other improvement is located shall sit with the judge in whose county the district was established. A majority of those sitting shall be necessary to a decision, and from such decision or from a failure to decide appeal may be taken.

Section 6101.73 | Irrigation districts.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

Irrigation districts may be formed under this chapter by a substantial compliance as near as possible with its provisions. No irrigation district in its construction or operation shall, in any manner, interfere with works for the prevention of floods or the drainage of lands or materially diminish the works' protective value. The court organizing the irrigation district shall require a statement in the petition and proof to the effect that the organization and operation of the irrigation district will not materially interfere with any works or plans for flood prevention or the drainage or protection of lands. No improvement under this chapter shall deprive the owners of lands lying upon any stream of water of the ordinary flow in the stream without compensation.

Subject to this section, the board of directors has the same powers as are conferred generally by this chapter insofar as applicable.

Assessments shall be levied and bonds issued as provided in this chapter, using the words "Conservancy Assessments" or "Conservancy Bonds."

Section 6101.74 | Remedies and damages.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) If any person or public corporation, within or without any conservancy district, considers itself injuriously affected in any manner by any act performed by any official or agent of the district, or by the execution, maintenance, or operation of the official plan, and if no other method of relief is offered under this chapter, the remedy shall be as follows:

(1) The person or public corporation considering itself to be injuriously affected shall petition the court before which the district was organized for an appraisal of damages sufficient to compensate for the injuries.

(2) The court shall direct the board of appraisers of the conservancy district to appraise the damages and injuries, and to make a report to the court on or before the time named in the order of the court.

(3) Upon the filing of the report of the board of appraisers, the court shall notify the petitioner and the board of directors of the conservancy district of a hearing on the report. At the time of the hearing, the court shall consider the report of the board of appraisers, and may ratify the report or amend it as the court considers equitable, or may return it to the board of appraisers and require it to prepare a new report.

(4) Upon the filing of an order of the court approving the report of the board of appraisers, with such modifications as it has made, the order constitutes a final adjudication of the matter unless it is appealed from within twenty days. Appeal to a jury from the order may be had by the petitioner, by the board of directors, or by any person or public corporation that has been assessed for the costs of the district.

(B) No damages shall be allowed under this section that would not otherwise be allowed in law. Nothing in this section shall be construed as expressly imposing any liability upon a conservancy district.

Section 6101.75 | Policing district.

• Effective: January 1, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 490 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of directors of a conservancy district may police the works of the district and, in times of great emergency, may compel assistance in the protection of those works. The board may prevent persons, vehicles, or livestock from passing over the property or works of the district at any places or in any manner that would result in damage to the property or works or in the opinion of the board would endanger the property or works or the safety of persons lawfully on the property or works.

The employees that the board designates for that purpose have all the powers of police officers within and adjacent to the properties owned or controlled by the district. Before entering upon the exercise of those powers, each employee shall take an oath and give a bond to the state, in the amount that the board prescribes, for the proper exercise of those powers. The cost of the bond shall be borne by the district. This division is subject to division (C) of this section.

(C)(1) The board of directors shall not designate an employee as provided in division (B) of this section on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the employee previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)(a) The board of directors shall terminate the employment of an employee designated as provided in division (B) of this section if that employee does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the employee agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to that employee under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The board of directors shall suspend from employment an employee designated as provided in division (B) of this section if that employee is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the employee files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the employee does not file a timely appeal, the board shall terminate the employment of that employee. If the employee files an appeal that results in that employee's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that employee, the board shall reinstate that employee. An employee who is reinstated under division (C)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that employee's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the employee of the felony.

(3) Division (C) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension from employment, or the termination of the employment, of an employee under division (C)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 6101.76 | Removals for cause.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Any director, appraiser, or other officer of any conservancy district may be removed for cause upon a motion filed in the original case where said district was organized, after a hearing.

Section 6101.77 | Writ of mandamus.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

The performance of all duties prescribed in this chapter concerning the organization and administration or operation of the conservancy district may be enforced against any officer of the district by mandamus at the instance of the board of directors of the district or of any person or public corporation interested in any way in the district. The board of directors may institute court proceedings to enforce compliance by any person or public corporation with any order of the board. The board may institute those proceedings in the court of appeals in the first instance.

Section 6101.78 | Defective notice.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

If a notice and hearing by the court are provided for in this chapter, the court shall, prior to the conclusion of the hearing, examine the form of the notice and all evidence relating to the giving of the notice and, if the court finds for any reason that due notice was not given in whole or in part, whether by reason of noncompliance with any of the requirements of this chapter or with any applicable constitutional requirements, the court shall not thereby lose jurisdiction, and the proceeding in question shall not thereby be void; but the court shall in that case order notice to be given in compliance with the requirements of this chapter to the parties to whom due notice was not given or the court shall order the giving of other and further notice as the court shall prescribe to comply with any applicable constitutional requirements, and shall continue the hearing until the time when the notice is properly given, and then shall proceed as though notice had been properly given in the first instance.

In case any appraisal, assessment, or levy is held void for want of legal notice, whether by reason of noncompliance with any of the requirements of this chapter or with any applicable constitutional requirements, or in case the board of directors of the conservancy district determines that any notice with reference to any land or public corporation is faulty for one of the same reasons, the board may file a motion in the original cause asking that the court order that the notice required by this chapter or any applicable constitutional requirements be given to the owner of the land or to the public corporation and set a time for hearing as provided in this chapter, and, upon the granting of the motion and the giving of the notice, the court then shall proceed as though notice had been properly given in the first instance. If the original notice was faulty only with reference to certain public corporations or tracts, only the public corporations or the owners of and persons interested in those particular tracts need be notified by the subsequent notice. If the publication of any notice in any county was defective or not made in time, republication of the defective notice is necessary only in the county in which the defect occurred.

Section 6101.79 | Questions of validity of organization advanced in courts.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

All cases in which there arises a question of the validity of the organization of conservancy districts shall be advanced as a matter of immediate public interest and concern, and heard in all courts at the earliest practicable moment.

The court shall be open at all times for the purposes of this chapter.

Section 6101.80 | Liberal construction of chapter.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 - 123rd General Assembly

This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the control, conservation, and drainage of the waters of this state.

Section 6101.81 | Destruction, injury, removal of survey marks prohibited.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person shall willfully destroy, injure, or remove any bench marks, witness marks, stakes, or other reference marks placed by the surveyors or engineers of the conservancy district or by contractors in constructing the works of such district.

Section 6101.82 | Liability for damages.

• Effective: October 12, 1959
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 673 - 103rd General Assembly

(A) All persons and corporations shall be liable for damage done to works of a conservancy district by themselves, their agents, their employees, or by their livestock.

(B) No person shall damage any works, improvements or property of a conservancy district. Whoever violates this division of this section shall be liable for all damages and costs.

The board of directors of the conservancy district may repair such damage at the expense of the person or corporation committing it.

Section 6101.83 | Unlawful use of moneys.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No officer of a conservancy district or any other public officer shall make a profit, directly or indirectly, out of any contracts entered into by the district, or, for the purpose of profit, use any money belonging to a district by loaning it or otherwise using it, or by depositing it in any manner, contrary to law, or by removal of any money by any such officer or by his consent and placing it elsewhere than is prescribed either by law or by the official acts of the board of directors of the conservancy district. The officer offending shall be liable personally and upon his official bond for all losses to such district and for all profits realized by such unlawful use of moneys.

Section 6101.84 | Illustrative forms.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 617 (GA 123), House Bill 495 (GA 123)

The following forms illustrate the character of the procedure contemplated by this chapter, and, if substantially complied with, those things being changed which should be changed to meet the requirements of the particular case, such procedure shall be held to meet the requirements of this chapter.

(A) Form of Notice of Hearing on the Petition:

"To all Persons and Public Corporations Interested:

Public Notice is Hereby Given:

(1) That on the ...... day of .........., ...., pursuant to the Conservancy Law of Ohio, there was filed in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of ........... County, Ohio, the petition of ............ and others for the establishment of a Conservancy District to be known as .......... Conservancy District.

(Here insert the purposes)

(2) That the lands sought to be included in said District comprise lands in .......... and .......... Counties, Ohio, described substantially as follows:

Beginning on the north line of .......... County at its point of intersection with the west bank of the .......... River; thence west along the north line of .......... County to the high bluffs facing said .......... River on the west; thence following the base of the line of said bluffs to the north line of the right of way of the .......... Railroad; thence west along the north right of way line of said Railroad to the center line of ........... Avenue in the Village of ..........; thence south along the center line of .......... Avenue to the .......... Pike; thence southeasterly along the .......... Pike to the southeasterly line of the right of way of the .......... Railroad; thence southeasterly along said right of way line to the corporate limits of the City of ..........; thence with said corporation line southerly, easterly, and northerly to the southerly right of way line of the main track of the .......... Railroad; thence easterly along said last named right of way line to the boundary line between .......... Counties; thence north along said County line to the southerly line of .......... County; thence easterly along the dividing line between .......... Counties to the easterly line of the right of way of the .......... Railroad; thence northerly along said right of way line to its intersection with the .......... Pike; thence westerly along said Pike to the center line of the bridge over .......... Creek; thence up said Creek and along the center line thereof to the north line of .......... County; thence west to the place of beginning.

Or, if found more convenient, the lands sought to be included in the District may be described as follows:

All of Township .......... in Range ...... between the .......... Railroad and the .......... River; the following lands in .......... Township and ...... Range; Section ...... and the ...... half of Section ......; also all lands within the corporate limits of the City of .......... etc.

(3) That a public hearing on said petition will be had in said Court on ....... the ...... day of ........, ...., at the hour of ...... o'clock .....M. by the Court of Common Pleas of .......... County, at the Courthouse in the City of .......... County, Ohio.

All persons and public corporations interested will be given the opportunity to be heard at the time and place above specified...................................Clerk of the Court of Common Pleasof ................. County, Ohio.

Date Dated .........., Ohio, .............., ...."

(B) Form of Finding on Hearing:"State of Ohio,)) ss............ County)In the Court of Common Pleas of .......... County. In Matter of .......... Conservancy District:

FINDINGS AND DECREE ON HEARING

On this ...... day of ........, ...., this cause coming on for hearing upon the petition of .......... and others, for the organization of a Conservancy District under the Conservancy Law of Ohio, the Court, after a full hearing now here finds:

(1) That it has jurisdiction of the parties to and the subject matter of this proceeding.

(2) That the purposes for which said District is established are:

(Insert the purposes)

And that it is a public necessity.

(3) That the public safety, health, convenience, and welfare will be promoted by the organization of a Conservancy District substantially as prayed in said petition (if additional lands are added by petition) except, that the following additional lands at the petition of the owners thereof should be and hereby are included in said District:

(Here insert additional lands)

(4) That the boundaries of said District as modified by the last finding herein are as follows: (Here insert corrected boundaries of district)

(5) That the said territory last above described should be erected into and created a Conservancy District under the Conservancy Law of Ohio under the corporate name of ............ Conservancy District.

Wherefore, it is by the Court ordered, adjudged, and decreed:

That the territory as above described be, and the same hereby is erected into and created a Conservancy District under the Conservancy Law of Ohio under the corporate name of ......... Conservancy District, with its office or principal place of business at .........., in .......... County, Ohio. (If directors are appointed at the same time) And the following persons are hereby appointed directors of said Conservancy District:

..............., for the term of three years,

..............., for the term of four years (if the district includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties),

..............., for the term of five years,

..............., for the term of six years (if the district includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties),

..............., for the term of seven years, who are hereby directed to qualify and proceed according to law.

(6) For consideration of other matters herein, this cause is retained on the docket.

.................................. Judge"

(C) Form of Notice to Persons and Public Corporations to pay Assessment:

"To all Persons and Public Corporations Interested:

Public Notice is Hereby Given:

(1) That on the ...... day of ........, ...., the Board of Directors of The .......... Conservancy District duly levied an assessment upon all the benefited property and public corporations in said District in the aggregate sum of $........., has caused the same to be recorded upon the Assessment Record of said District, and that said Assessment Record is now on file in the office of the District at ............

(2) That the assessment against any parcel of land or any public corporation may be paid to the Treasurer of The .......... Conservancy District at any time on or prior to .........., ...., without costs and without interest, and if so paid a discount of ten per cent of the assessment will be allowed according to law.

(3) That as soon after the ..... day of ........, ...., as conveniently may be, the Board of Directors of said District will divide the uncollected assessment into convenient installments, provide for the collection of interest on the unpaid installments, and issue bonds bearing interest in anticipation of the collection of the several installments of said assessment pursuant to the Conservancy Law of Ohio.

.............................. President

.............................. Secretary"

(D) Form of Bond and of Coupon:

(Form of Bond)

"No. ......................... $ .........................

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State of Ohio

............. Conservancy District.

Conservancy Bond.

Know all Persons by These Presents that ........... Conservancy District, a legally organized Conservancy District of the State of Ohio, acknowledges itself to owe and for value received hereby promises to pay to bearer ........ Dollars ($........) on the first day of ........, ...., with interest thereon from the date hereof until paid at the rate of ...... per cent per annum, payable ........, ...., and semiannually thereafter on the first day of ........ and of ........ in each year on presentation and surrender of the annexed interest coupons as they severally become due. Both principal and interest of this bond are hereby made payable in lawful money of the United States of America.

This bond is one of a series of bonds issued by .......... Conservancy District for the purpose of paying the cost of constructing a system of flood prevention (or for the other works) for said District and in anticipation of the collection of the several installments of an assessment duly levied upon lands and public corporations within said District and benefited by said improvement in strict compliance with the Conservancy Law of Ohio, and pursuant to an order of the Board of Directors of said District duly made and entered of record.

And it is hereby certified and recited that all acts, conditions, and things required to be done in locating and establishing said District and in equalizing appraisals of benefits and in levying assessments against lands and public corporations benefited thereby, and in authorizing, executing, and issuing this bond, have been legally had, done, and performed in due form of law; that the total amount of bonds issued by said District does not exceed ninety per cent of the assessments so levied and unpaid at the time said bonds are issued or any legal limitation thereof.

And for the performance of all the covenants and stipulations of this bond and of the duties imposed by law upon said District for the collection of the principal and interest of said assessments and the application thereof to the payment of this bond and the interest thereon, and for the levying of such other and further assessments as are authorized by law and as may be required for the prompt payment of this bond and the interest thereon, the full faith, credit, and resources of said .......... Conservancy District are hereby irrevocably pledged.

In Testimony Whereof the Board of Directors of ............ Conservancy District has caused this bond to be signed by its President, attested by its Secretary, and registered by the Treasurer of State, and the coupons hereto annexed to be executed by the facsimile signatures of said President and Secretary, as of the ............ day of ................, ...................................    President

Attest:........................Secretary"(Form of Coupon)"$.......................

(..........)On the first day of(..........), ........,(..........)

.................... Conservancy District promises to pay to bearer ................ Dollars ($..........) lawful money of the United States of America, at the office of the Treasurer of State, Columbus, Ohio, being semiannual interest due on that date on its Conservancy Bond dated ................, ...................................PresidentNo. ......................................................        Secretary"

(E) Form of Notice of Enlargement of District:

"State of Ohio,)) ss.County of ..........)In the Court of Common Pleas,................ County, Ohio.In the Matter of.................. Conservancy District

NOTICE OF ENLARGEMENT OF DISTRICT

To All Persons (and Public Corporations, if any) Interested:

Public Notice Is Hereby Given:

(1) That heretofore on the ...... day of .........., ...., the Court of Common Pleas of ................ County, Ohio, duly entered a final decree erecting and creating ................ Conservancy District and appointing a Board of Directors therefor.

(2) That thereafter this Court duly appointed................................................................................................ (if the district included includes all or part parts of more than sixteen counties)

........................ (if the district includes all or parts of more than sixteen counties)

to be the Board of Appraisers for said District. That said Board of Appraisers on the ........ day of ............, ...., filed its report recommending that the following described lands, not originally included in the District, be added thereto:

(Here describe generally the lands which the Report of the Board of Appraisers recommends should be added to the District).

(3) That on ........, the ........ day of .............., ...., (or as soon thereafter as the convenience of the Court will permit), at the Courthouse in ............ of .............., Ohio, the Court of Common Pleas of .................. County, Ohio, will hear all persons and public corporations interested upon the question whether said lands should be added to and included in said .................... Conservancy District.

..................................Clerk of the Court of Common Pleasof ................. County, Ohio"

(F) Form of Notice of Hearing on Appraisals:

"State of Ohio,)) ss.County of ..............)

In the Court of Common Pleas, ........... County, Ohio.

In the Matter of)).......... Conservancy Distric)

NOTICE OF HEARING ON APPRAISALS

To all Persons and Public Corporations Interested:

Public Notice Is Hereby Given:

(1) That heretofore on the ........ day of ............., ...., the Court of Common Pleas of ................ County, Ohio, duly entered a decree erecting and creating ............... Conservancy District and appointing a Board of Directors therefor.

(2) That thereafter this Court duly appointed ................................................................. the Board of Appraisers for said District. That said Board of Appraisers on the ........ day of ................, ...., filed its Appraisals of Benefits and Damages and of land to be taken as follows: (Here insert general description of land appraised)

The said appraisal of benefits and damages and of land to be taken is now on file in the office of the clerk of this court.

(3) All public corporations and all persons, owners of or interested in the property described in said Report, whether as benefited property or as property taken and damaged (whether said taken or damaged property lies within or without said District), desiring to contest the appraisals as made and returned by the Board of Appraisers, must file their objections in said court on or before the ........ day of ................, ...., (here insert a date thirty days after the publication of the notice) and a hearing on said appraisal will be had on the ........ day of ................, ...., (here insert a date not less than forty, or more than fifty, days after the date of the publication of this notice, as fixed by the court) in the City of .................., Ohio, at which time an opportunity will be afforded all objectors to be heard upon their several objections.

..............................Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of .......... County, Ohio

Dated at the City of .................., Ohio, this ....... day of .................., ....."

(G) Form of Certificate of Assessment Record:

"This is to Certify:

(1) That on the ........ day of ................, ...., the Board of Directors of The .................. Conservancy District duly levied an assessment upon all the benefited property and public corporations in said District in the aggregate sum of $............, together with interest, and duly apportioned said assessment to and levied said assessment upon each tract of land or other property and each public corporation in said District in proportion to the benefits thereto.

(2) That the said assessment and the apportionment thereof upon the benefited lands and public corporations have been recorded in the Conservancy Assessment Record of The .................. Conservancy District which contains a notation of the items of property and the public corporations to which benefits have been appraised, the total amount of benefits appraised against each item or public corporation and the total assessment levied against each item or public corporation.

(3) That the Conservancy Assessment Record of The ................ Conservancy District contains a true and correct record of the benefits approved and confirmed by the Court and of the assessment levied by the Board of Directors thereof on ........ day of ............, .....

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the President and Secretary, respectively, of the Board of Directors of The ................ Conservancy District have hereunto set their hands this ........ day of ............, .....

..............................President..............................Secretary"

(H) Form of Certificate of Annual Levy:

"This is to Certify:

(1) That on the ........ day of ............, ...., the Board of Directors of The ................ Conservancy District determined, ordered, and levied the Annual Levy of .... (year) upon all the benefited property and public corporations in said District in the aggregate sum of $................ for the account of the Bond Retirement Fund of said District and pursuant to and being a part of assessments heretofore levied.

(2) That the said Board of Directors has duly apportioned said Annual Levy to all of the benefited properties and public corporations in said District and that the respective amounts of said Annual Levy imposed upon the benefited properties and public corporations have been recorded in the Assessment record of The ................ Conservancy District, which contains a schedule thereof.

(3) That on the ........ day of ............, ...., the Board of Directors of The ................ Conservancy District duly levied a maintenance assessment for the year ...., in the aggregate sum of $............ for the account of the Maintenance Fund of said District. That said maintenance assessment has been duly apportioned to the benefited properties and public corporations in said District in proportion to benefits and that the amounts of said maintenance assessment imposed upon the properties and public corporations in said District have been recorded in the Conservancy Assessment record of The ................ Conservancy District.

(4) That the Conservancy Assessment record contains a true and correct record of the Annual Levy of .... (year) and of the maintenance assessment for the year .... as determined, ordered, and levied by the Board of Directors of The ................. Conservancy District on the ........ day of ............, .....

(5) That the said amounts of said Annual Levy and of said maintenance assessment shall be collectible and payable in the year .... in the sums specified at the same time that the state and county taxes are due and collectible.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the President and Secretary, respectively, of the Board of Directors of the ................ Conservancy District have hereunto set their hands this ........ day of ............, .....

..............................President..............................Secretary"

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Last updated October 21, 2022 at 4:28 PM

Section 6101.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: July 1, 1996
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 2 - 121st General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates division (B) of section 6101.14 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than fifty dollars.

(B) Whoever violates division (B) of section 6101.19 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars.

(C) Whoever violates section 6101.81 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.

(D) Whoever violates division (B) of section 6101.82 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars.

(E) Whoever violates section 6101.83 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fourth degree, and the court may impose an additional fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars.