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In January of 1982, operating partly
on money borrowed from the City of Lawrenceburg, members of the board began preparing papers to be submitted for the Conservancy District.
It would require a resolution of support from the Flood Control District as well as the support of Greendale and Lawrenceburg Township. The City of Lawrenceburg would create the new Conservancy District.
At first, the town of Greendale balked at the new measure, but in June, they capitulated and signed a resolution, and by October of 1982, the creation of the Lawrenceburg Conservancy District had been approved by Dearborn Circuit Court. Representation from Lawrenceburg, Greendale and Lawrenceburg Township would remain the same.
The Conservancy District was formally established in May of 1983, with the Circuit Court Judge to appoint the first members.
Recommended for appointment were Dave Rader, Tony Gilb, Henry Nanz, Bob Kippler and Bill Hoffmeier.
The Flood Control District was dissolved and all assets were transferred to the LCD.
One of the first items on the agenda was approval to apply for an Indiana Flood Control loan of $100,000 at 1.5 percent interest. The money would be available in October.
Opposite, clockwise from top left: Many changes have occurred since the building of the levee, including the creation of the Lawrenceburg Conservancy District, new floodgates at the foot of Walnut Street, the west end of Center Street, as well as near Hollywood Casino. The floodgate shown, east of the casino, includes the original structure with new swing gates.
Meanwhile, with permission to levy higher taxes, the proposed budget for 1984 ballooned to $125,000 with a tax rate of 67 cents.
Spirits remained high despite the fact that state tax officials had reduced the proposed levy to 55 cents for 1984, and then the roof fell in.
Under board members Carl Agner, newly elected Lawrenceburg Mayor: Bob Kippler, Bill Hoffmeier, Tony Gilb and Jim Irons representing Greendale, a new glitch turned up.
State law exempted personal property from taxes levied by the Conservancy District.
This meant that huge inventory at the Seagram Distillery would not be taxed.
In fact, more than 51 percent of taxable property in the city of Lawrenceburg fell under the designation of personal property.
State officials allowed the district to assess their original rate of 67 cents, but it was far from enough.
In order to raise the necessary annual budget of $136,000, the tax rate would have to increase to $1.40 per $100 assessed valuation.
The final rate approved by state officials for 1985 was $1.28.
The District was constantly fighting problems with brush and weeds, and there were ongoing repairs needed at the vital pump stations. Following a Corps of Engineers inspection, they recommended repair of the gap in concrete between a pump station and the Joseph E. Seagram warehouse.
The Lawrenceburg levee provides protection, but also recreational opportunities, including a bike/walking path with vistas of the Ohio River, the city, and surrounding hills.