Levee districts, many controlled by one law firm, charge millions to taxpayers. And bills keep rising

Jacob Barker | Post-Dispatch
Nov 22, 2020
Nov 22, 2020
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Carol Boggs and Looper walk past the abandoned mini-golf station to close the batting cages at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Dale Boggs stands on top of a levee that sits on his property at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

The pro shop has been closed since the 2019 floods caused black mold to form inside at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. With a decrease in revenue caused by the flooding and an increase in the levee taxes the owners haven't had the funds to get the mold removed yet. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Dale Boggs, right, gives Caden Dahl a lesson at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Boggs doesn't provide lessons to the general public but will help out family friends from time to time. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Colter Peterson

Dale Boggs, center, talks to Caden Dahl, right, and Tony Dahl after a lesson at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Boggs doesn't provide lessons to the general public but will help out family friends from time to time. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

A medium bucket of balls costs ten dollars cash or eleven dollars on card at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Robert Smith catches Looper's back after handing him a empty ball basket at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. The two dogs on the property get a treat each time they collect a basket from a customer. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Damage to the grass and landscaping from repeated flooding on the chipping green has caused the owners to stop maintaining the feature for the time being at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Golfers are seen through a wall damaged by 2019 flood waters at the Golfport driving range and batting cages in Maryland Heights on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Dale and Carol Boggs have owned and operated Golfport on the same 52.2 acres for over 40 years. They deal with flooding on a regular basis including in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Their property was ravaged in 2019 when the county pumped water from the nearby Highway 141 onto the Golfport property causing severe damage to the landscaping and structures. The levee district keeps hiking their tax bill as well, this year's bill being 26% higher than last year's. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Workers with the city of Maryland Heights and the Levee District build berms out of gravel on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 to hold back flood waters alongside Missouri Highway 141. The highway is closed on both sides from Creve Coeur Airport Road to Creve Coeur Mill Road due to flooding from Creve Coeur Lake. Photo by Colter Peterson, cpeterson@post-dispatch.com

Colter Peterson

Jacob Barker | Post-Dispatch

MARYLAND HEIGHTS �� On a small piece of ground in this corner of northwest 51붚죕 County, Dale and Carol Boggs have eked out a living for years on golf lessons and $10 buckets of balls.