The day former Ottawa Mayor Bob Eschbach has been waiting for finally came Saturday. There was a big crowd for a ribbon cutting by the Illinois and Michigan Canal tollhouse for the canal re-watering project.
Eschbach wanted to do the canal project since he became mayor in 1999. In 2018, Army and Marine reserves training provided the work to make the canal hold water again. Several engineering challenges followed, and the project is still affected by a leak that’s making it hard to circulate the water as planned to prevent stagnation.
Eschbach and Canal Association President Arnie Bandstra are confident that problem will be solved soon.
Ottawa Canal Association President Arnie Bandstra cuts the ribbon while in a canoe.