County commissioners representing six West Central Ohio counties voted unanimously Tuesday morning to a slight increase in property taxes for logjam removal and general river maintenance. The joint board of the Blanchard River Enhancement and Flood Mitigation Project, comprising commissioners from Allen, Hardin, Hancock, Putnam, Seneca, and Wyandot counties, agreed to the tax collection increase during a Zoom call hosted by Hancock County commissioners.

The decision was made as maintenance costs have begun to surpass the funds currently on hand for the project. A Hancock County government official on the call stated that "There are so many projects that we are exceeding that threshold." During the meeting, it was determined that a $2 hike per parcel of land in the watershed would be enacted when the project is next assessed in 2028.

Allen County Commissioner Beth Seibert expressed agreement with a motion to increase the amount of tax collections to $75,000. She also suggested to "then look at that number again in four or five years." This motion to raise river maintenance tax collections to $75,000 was approved by the board in a unanimous vote.

Prior to the increase, the joint board had authorized the collection of $50,000 in tax dollars for logjam removal and other maintenance, as noted during the meeting in relation to collections in 2025. Putnam County Commissioner John Schlumbohm stated before Tuesday’s meeting that there are "pretty good-sized projects coming up" to clear out logjams in the river. Projects are specifically planned for this year in Putnam and Hancock counties, with an approximate cost of $65,000. Putnam County commissioners Brad Brubaker, John Schlumbohm, and Tim Wehri were among those who participated in the conference call.

According to Commissioner Schlumbohm, the joint board was established following extensive flooding in 2007 on the Blanchard River. That flooding was largely attributed to deadfalls and other obstacles blocking portions of the river throughout the six-county watershed.

The Blanchard River Enhancement and Flood Mitigation Project is a broader, multi-phase regional initiative. Its primary goals are to lower flood levels, widen floodplain benches, and remove thousands of parcels of land from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood plains.

The Blanchard River’s headwaters are located near Kenton and the waterway flows to empty into the Auglaize River in western Putnam County.