Do a good deed....

My father has a small farm on the edge of Geneva, Ohio. A long-time housing development on the edge of the city has had water drainage problems since its inception. Finding other alternatives impossible, the city finally asked my father if they could clear some ditches through his property and divert some of the water there. He was assured the water would be passed through his land via the ditches, then to other existing drainiage features and eventually to Lake Erie.

My father agreed. The ditches were cleared last week. This week my father's farm has been turned into the everglades. Anyone got a spare alligator that needs a cushy, new home?

The stormwater comes from this development into the ditches, then stops at my father's far property line as the ditches downstream are clogged. It has backed up and flooded his fields. The authorities' response? "Oooops! There's nothing we can do about it."

Another of the problems: He lives in the township, the project was completed by the county but was funded by the city. Confusing enough?

He plans today to meet with the city manager to show him the problem and arrive at a solution. Absent cooperation on the city's part, he will proceed through the courts to get a solution. I've googled up some court precedents involving Ohio drainage cases and will be spending more time on the internet if a solution is not forthcoming.