Dear Mill Creek Watershed resident,

The Mill Creek Alliance (MCA) has worked for over 20 years to restore and improve the Mill Creek Watershed and the quality of life for all of its residents. MCA invites you to a special Council of Communities’ meeting where elected officials and other community leaders can learn more about a crucial Mill Creek watershed issue that will impact all residents of the watershed.

The Millcreek Valley Conservancy District (District) has inherited responsibility for overseeing and maintaining many parcels of land along the Mill Creek from the US Army Corps of Engineers. While this in itself is an important and daunting task, the District would also like to acquire title or conservation easements to additional land in the watershed to utilize and manage for conservation, storm water, and flood water control purposes. This could extend many benefits to the stream and all of our communities.

Unfortunately, the Corps of Engineers does not provide funding to the District for these activities. Instead, the District is empowered by law to levy an assessment or property tax on property owners in the watershed in order to fund this necessary work. The proposed assessment must be approved by a Hamilton County Common Pleas Court Judge. The District is in the process of examining several options for the basis and structure of the assessment and would like to discuss it with as many community leaders as possible.

Since the Mill Creek Alliance is active throughout the watershed and has an existing Council of Communities structure in place, the District asked MCA to assist in arranging an opportunity for it to present its plans. Therefore, MCA has arranged a meeting to be held October 18, 2018 4pm-6pm at the Sharonville Convention Center and November 7, 2018 from 6:30pm-8pm at Roberts Academy. Tim Gilday, Board Chair for the District, and representatives from the District’s engineering consultant, Stantec, will describe the District’s plans and answer questions from the public.

MCA hopes that you will be able to attend this special event, take advantage of the opportunity to network with many other community leaders, and learn more about the Mill Creek Watershed, the District and the potential assessment. For more information, you can call me at 513-731-8400 or email me at dschmitt@themillcreekalliance.org. We look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Dave Schmitt

Executive Director