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Flooding Victims and ODNR Before State Supreme Court Over Compensation

The state is responding to complaints by dozens of landowners near Ohio's largest inland lake who say compensation for flooding losses has been delayed again. At issue is how fast the Department of Natural Resources has responded to a court order to compensate 87 landowners near Grand Lake St. Marys, a 20-square-mile lake between Dayton and Toledo. Attorneys for the landowners, almost all farmers, argue the state is revoking previous good faith financial offers and saying it will make newer and lower offers. State lawyers appeared Wednesday before the Ohio Supreme Court to address allegations that they have tried to wear the landowners out with constant delays and reduce their compensation. The state agrees landowners should be compensated but also wants new studies of the flooding's impact considered.