Hanover Ditch reconstruction

Says the assessments are impossible to pay and blames county highway culverts for channeling hundreds of acres of Illinois water onto his property with no outlet.

50-year resident who says the water used to drain in a day until the road was raised and berms built; believes others, including the county, caused the problem and should share responsibility.

Speaking for her mother Melody Oldendorf, says the 175-year family farm has had 30-40 acres underwater for the last 30 years and asks the county to help get the drainage fixed.

Wants to know if state grant money that could have covered 90% of the cost when the conservancy district existed is still available; he's against the current proposal.

Questions why six owners now bear the burden that 56 watershed owners once shared, calls the quotes outrageous (especially $82,000 for fence work), and asks about right-of-way restrictions and construction timing.

Long, emotional account of 40 years of flooding, lawsuits with Illinois neighbors, and failed conservancy efforts; she opposes the assessment but strongly opposes closing the regulated drain, which she calls her only hope of getting the water out.

Young resident from State Line Road who argues that saddling generational farmers with six-figure assessments will push them out and erode the county's agricultural heritage.