Grand Lake St. Mary’s Restoration Commission

For

Grand Lake St. Marys Lake Restoration Initiative (LIR)

December 27, 2010 Meeting Minutes

Note: These minutes are prepared only for the use of the members of the Commission and their further distribution is prohibited without the express permission of the LRC Facilitator.

The Grand Lake St. Marys Restoration Committee met at 11:30 A.M on December 27, 2010 at the Wright State University Lake Campus. Members present were:

NAME ORGANIZATION
Facilitator -Tom Knapke Wright State University
Jared Ebbing P.E. Mercer County Community Development
Thomas Rampe P.E. Lake Improvement Association
Brian Miller GLSM State Park
Julie Miller Wright State University
Todd Fleagle City of Saint Marys
Jerry Will Watershed Agricultural Representative

Members excused:
Milt Miller Lake Development Corporation
Greg Schumm Wright State University
Laura Walker Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed Coordinator
Glen Hux Mercer County Civic Foundation
Jeff Vossler Lake Improvement Association
Tom Hitchcock, P.E. City of St. Marys
Kevin Bettinger Watershed Agricultural Representative
Darwin Ziegler St. Marys Community Foundation
Doug Spencer Auglaize County
Kent Bryan, P.E. City of Celina

Also in attendance were supporting members -Linda May, Bruns Realty, and Ron Puthoff, Community Development Services.

Also excuse was supporting member Tim Lovett, LIA President.

Todd made a motion seconded by Linda to approve the minutes of the 11/22/10, 11/29/10 and 12/13/10 meetings of the LRC.

Tom R. reported that a large crowd attended the 12/23/10 fund raiser dance for the LRC at the St. Marys union hall and it appeared to be a success.

Tom K. reported that he had met with Jill Geyer and Matt Hostel of the University of Findlay. They areseeking a grant to do water quality studies on the treatment trains and to study plant life in the Lake.

Tom K. reported that Jeff had been notified by Chris Carroll of the local Wal-Mart that Chris had received notification from regional manager Wendell Martin that funding was not available for our grant request
this year. The grant request will receive further assessment for funding by Wal-Mart in early 2011. Tom

R. agreed to draft a letter to Wal-Mart forwarding our master plan to Wal-Mart detailing how our grant request fits into the master plan.
Brian reported that he has heard nothing from Columbus about funding the alum treatment for the Lake next spring.

Jared reported that KCI is preparing a draft letter to go to the Corps of Engineers requesting a General Investigative Studies grant for the Lake. It was agreed to have Mercer County initially be listed as thegrant recipient. When the Community Investment Corporation is ready, it will be the grant recipient. He also noted that the Ohio Department of Development has approved a reimbursable $50K grant for the implementation of the master plan.

Jared indicated a representative of the Soy Council has called him reported that the Soy Council wants to work with the LRC on a CIG grant in the EQIP program. The grant could be up to $1M but would have to be submitted by COB on 12/28/10 and would have to include an EQIP eligible producer. Tom R. suggested the grant could be for a manure digester combined with a process to remove phosphorus
from the liquid effluent from the digester. Jerry will contact Terry Mescher at the Soil and Water office to determine if a grant submission could be completed in time.

Joe Pfiffer of KCI was contacted on the speaker phone and the draft master plan was reviewed in depth. It was agreed that Julie and Linda will insert photos to be included in the plan into the draft plan. Tom K.
will have the draft plan emailed to all of the LRC members for their review.

Julie and Linda will provide some input on the LRC for Laura’s watershed newsletter.

Tom K. noted that he will meet with Representatives Bertke and Adams to discuss the master plan and request their support on 12/31/10. It was agreed that the next meeting of the LRC will be on January 10th.

Jared indicated the establishment of the CIC is proceeding. The next step will be for the CIC to meet and elect officers.

The 12/17/10 meeting with CTL was discussed. Volunteers are needed for a subcommittee to develop the wetlands mitigation bank which could help fund wetlands development in the Lake’s watershed. Kevin Reichert of CTL has agreed to be a member of the committee. Linda will support the subcommittee but cannot be a member due to conflict of interests.

Brian volunteered to do the LRC’s spot on WCSM on 1/3/11.

Todd reported that AquaBloc, a company that does alum treatment, wants to meet with the LRC representatives concerning the Lake. A meeting will be scheduled by Todd with Aqua Block on 1/6/11 at

11:30 at the Wright State University conference room. Interested LRC members can attend and Tom R. said he will attend. Donna Grubbe is proceeding with the carp derby in June and has the applications ready to distribute.

Collection of the expected large amounts of dead fish was discussed briefly. Possibly dumpsters could be placed at the state parks and other locations around the Lake and the public could be advised to
bring the dead fish that wash up on their properties to them for disposal.

Tom R. noted that it was in December 2009 that the LRC started to form. It is amazing what we have accomplished as a volunteer group in a very short time.

The next meeting of the Commission will be Monday, January 10th
at 11:30 A.M. at Wright State University Lake Campus, Rm. 102 Dwyer Hall (admin conference room).

Minutes prepared by Tom Rampe

Note: These minutes are prepared only for the use of the members of the Commission and their further distribution is prohibited without the express permission of the LRC Facilitator.