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Friday, 12 December 2008 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
CELINA — A local lake organization met Friday morning, looking toward the future.
The Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Alliance met for two meetings quarterly Public Advisory Board meeting and for the monthly Joint Board meeting at the Mercer County Central Services building, reviewing its activities held during the year and discussing ideas for 2009.
During the Public Advisory meeting, Watershed Coordinator Laura Walker prepared a PowerPoint presentation of the watershed project annual review displaying what the group had accomplished in 2008, including implementing a tile main, waste treatment systems, feed lots, various educational programs and more.
She also thanked the group’s partners and those, such as the Mercer and Auglaize Soil and Water Districts, the Lake Improvement Association, the city of Celina and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, who had contributed to the funding of the various projects.
Walker also announced that the organization would not be receiving money from a state line item that was implemented by Sen. Keith Faber on a two-year budget.
“It was used for the Agriculture Incentives program,” Walker told The Evening Leader, estimating the funds total approximately $100,000.
She said she didn’t know if the line item would be present on the next budget. Grand Lake St. Marys Assistant Park Manager Brian Miller said the group would have to lobby its legislators for the funds.
“We’re going to have to continuously push these,” Miller said.
Board member Rick Muhlenkamp said he recently had talked to government officials about the economic situation.
“Things just don’t sound that positive with funding,” he said.
Walker mentioned a new Enviroscape model available, as well as a new groundwater model, that would cost a cost share price of $100, that the GLWWA could purchase.
“It definitely gets the point across,” Walker said of the Enviroscape. “It’s easy to use and definitely worth it.” She said the group most likely would not receive the new groundwater model, which would cost $100 to $150, even though its has a leak.
“They’ll probably give it to some one who doesn’t have one already,” Walker said.
Bill Ringo and Tom Rampe of the LIA said they would approach their organization about raising money to pay for the new models.
Ringo also complimented Walker on the lake organizations’ accomplishments.
“We think we’ve done a great job educating the public as to what we think needs to be resolved,” he said. “We’re operating and progress is slow to some, but I want to thank you for bringing this to the public. If we can continue to deal with the facts and be positive, we’re on the right track.”
Walker thanked the visitors for their participation in the organization’s activities before she met with the board members in executive session for her evaluation.
GLWWA will hold a reorganizational meeting at 4 p.m. Jan. 22, at the Mercer County Central Services building. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 17 December 2008 )
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