Editor,

Diking District No. 2 covers the south end of the Maxwelton Valley, approximately from French Road down to Burley Road and across from Bailey Road to Maxwelton Road. To the southeast, the district stretches some way up No Name Creek. The district has been in operation since 1914.

Until recently, the district did not feel it necessary to raise a levy for its operations. The commissioners and other land owners voluntarily contributed to meeting the costs and there was also some grant funding.

This year two new commissioners have joined the board and as part of a general reassessment of its operations have begun a concerted outreach effort to include residents of the district in its decision making process. They have mailed out public notifications of meetings and published legal notices in the back of this paper. I, and other landowners within the district, applaud them for this initiative.

At the public meeting of November 8, the board announced a budget for 2015 and defined the parcels in the district. There are also new and more complicated environmental regulations to be complied with along with administrative requirements. These are all welcome changes and promise to improve the watershed management of the lower Maxwelton Valley with substantial potential long-term improvements for fish and other wildlife.

Naturally, this is not a simple task. Firstly, there is that question of a budget that must be raised with a levy on properties within the district. The initial budget request was for $19,000, which worked out to about $70 per acre. Following resident input, the board has indicated a decrease in that amount for this year. A letter will be sent out shortly, if not already, with a property roll showing the levy amount decided upon.

To keep residents informed of issues facing Diking District No. 2, the board is holding a public hearing this Saturday, December 6 at 9 a.m. in the Little Brown Church, the corner of Maxwelton and French. This hearing is to consider the roll of properties comprising the district and to determine the continuous base benefits received and thus the levy assessed upon each. There are several potentially important decisions to be made and the commissioners are eager to gather input on these matters. This is a valuable opportunity for residents not only to understand what is being asked of them when it comes to paying for the district’s operations, but to influence the future course of the entire Maxwelton watershed.

JONATHAN EVELEGH

Maxwelton