Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

Scioto County Engineer Craig Opperman says he has tried to work with a Wheelersburg homeowner about removing an obstruction on their property with no success.

As a result, the Scioto County Commissioners recently passed a resolution allowing a crew from the Scioto County Engineering Department to remove the obstruction.

“This has been an ongoing problem on Turkey Foot Road in Turkey Foot Township. It is a really tight curve and one of the property owners filled in their hillside,” Opperman said. “That hillside has been slipping into the ditch and the roadway for a number of years. We sent a letter over a year ago to have the property owner to address the issue other wise we would take care of it and that’s where we’re at.”

Opperman said his crews will now address the issue, before it escalates.

“We will cutback the hillside back to the point where they filled it in. In it’s current condition it’s filling in the ditch, blocking it,” Opperman said. “What would have flowed through the ditch is now running into the road, it’s becoming a hazard for motorists. So, we’ve found a method of addressing this issue that someone else created and not make the tax payers pay for it.”

Opperman said the cost incurred will be added to the property owners taxes for reimbursement.

Opperman said the scope of the work that will be necessary is unknown due to the amount of fill that is on the hill side. He said it’s uncertain when crews will get started on this project, but it’s on the departments list of things to do.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or tallen@civitasmedia.com.