Lake Development Corporation Minutes
1/07/08
The January Lake Development Corporation meeting was called to order at 4:03pm by President Jim Dabbelt.
In attendance were Rick Bachelor, Jim Dabbelt, Todd Fleagle, Bob Grimm, Donna Grube, Frank C. Murray, Greg Schumm, Doug Temple, Terry Wissman, Laura Walker, Julie Miller, Craig Morton, Kelly Kill and Nancy Allen of the Daily Standard.
A motion to approve the December 2007 minutes as e-mailed to members was presented by Frank C. Murray, followed by a second from Rick Bachelor, motion carried.
President Dabbelt related that Treasurer Milt Miller would not be in attendance as he was ill, Miller did e-mail the treasury balance as $9794.87. Dabbelt asked Donna Grube if she had taken care of a second solicitation mailing as was discussed at the December meeting, Grube replied she was still waiting for the list from Treasurer Miller. Dabbelt said he would work on getting her that information.
Grand Lake St. Marys State Park Manager Craig Morton presented the following lake report:
Lake Level
- 6 to 8 above normal pool, 3 to 5 of bad ice.
Dredge
- Long reach track hoe and two dozers are working on emptying out the Service Area DMRA.
- Winter dredge crew work, cleaning out Rustic Haven DMRA, finishing the Anderson Shoreline Protection and working on several smaller shoreline protection jobs. May use concrete from the City of St. Marys.
- Long range dredging plans. Beaver Creek mouth, Coldwater Creek mouth, and Anderson DMRA construction. Anderson DMRA public hearing for section 401 certification with the Ohio EPA Feb. 21, 2008 at the St. Marys Municipal Building.
- Prairie Creek Island Shoreline protection. ($450,000) Public notice has gone out.
- Private channel dredging. Criteria #6 and #7 have expired and there is no longer funding for what has been described as private channels unless it comes from the Div. of Parks budget. Currently there is not funding allocated in the division budget but we are working on that.
Lake Safety
- The park has received some cold water ice rescue equipment. Two survival suits, one sled and two slings and lots of smaller gear. The Park Officers have been practicing with the gear every two weeks since cold weather started.
- Ice safety. The public should consider the ice inherently unsafe just as the park staff does. Use extreme caution on the ice. Do not allow children on the ice without direct and very close adult supervision. Minimum of 5 of good ice before walking on the ice. Take safety equipment with you, ice picks, PFD, rope, buddy system, tell people where you are going communication device.
Park
- Future projects. Park office renovations/expansion to update the main office reception room and work area. Also will expand to the west side for more office space and storage. Putt putt course renovation.
- Law Enforcement stats 2007. Way up, 7 DUI/OUIs. This is not an indication of increased crime, rather it is an indication of motivated and more highly trained Park Officers.
- New 1 ton dump truck, 4WD with plow package has arrived. Park trucks are slowly being replaced with Div. of Wildlife salvage vehicles.
- Tree program. Plan to advertise and push to get 20 to 30 trees donated for this spring and in the process get reduced prices for the individuals donating.
Morton was asked about the upcoming EPA hearing concerning the Anderson DMRA permit and specifically if a letter of support from the LDC would help. He said that he assumed all support letters would help in the matter. President Dabbelt instructed Secretary Grube to write the letter stressing the need to continue the state dredging program and specifically the Anderson project and DMRA.
Greg Schumm reported that everything was a go for the Legislative Day on the Lake on June 20th. He also reported that the construction project at the college may get underway sooner than anticipated.
Julie Miller talked about the recent visit by US Senator Sherrod Brown. Miller, Dabbelt and Grube were invited to participate in the discussion. Miller noted that Brown was working to get increased funding for farmers for conservation practices that will decrease pollutants coming into the lake. It was noted that it is believed US congressman John Boehner will not support the matter in the house bill and letters to him on the matter are important.
Donna Grube reported that the CVB is getting ready for travel show season. She said they will be promoting the lake at the Cincinnati show January 18-27, Indy February 15 -24 and Cleveland March 5-9. She said they have redesigned the booth to include a new, larger lake map and new lake promotion brochures. Grube said those are the result of a new committee that is meeting to help promote the positives of Grand Lake St. Marys. This group wants to counter the negative stories that have been printed concerning the lake. She added they still want to come up with a fact sheet in order to inform news writers if they print incorrect facts. She said the committee does not argue the water quality needs improvement. They just want to remind folks about all the positives and to make sure incorrect facts are not passed off as facts.
Laura Walker presented the Grand Lake/Wabash Watershed report:
GLWWA Watershed Action Plan
- Returned for review on December 27, 2007
- Expect at least two weeks before comments
- Once endorsed move to implementation
Lawn Fertilizer Minigrant
- Program ended December 31, 2007
- Compiling results from Helena Agronomic Center
- Will be working with Helena (and possibly others) on 2008 program
$100,000 for Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed
- Started waiting list of applications
- Taking recommendations for 2008 program
Geotextile Tube Manure Dewatering Grant
- Three tubes filled at swine operation, two at the dairy
- Beginning to analyze data
- Captured attention of Celina Tent
Volunteer Monitoring Program
- Volunteers are needed for this program
- Working on quality assurance and supply order
- Have location and possible date for Spring training
Water Pollution Control Loan Fund
- Forms for septic system replacement and agriculture equipment
- Funds will be available ASAP
- Next step is to sign MOU
USGS Microbial Tracking
- Project could show source of nutrients
- Requires a 70% match
- May hold off till next year
USGS Proposal for Monitoring Ethanol Plant
- Two options
- May be grant funds and the possibility of other contributors
- Needs to begin as soon as we know the plant will be built
Lake Geotextile Tube Project
- $25,000 from state budget for capitol improvements
- Assisting State Park to get project started
- Proposal was accepted
QHEI Level II Training
- Habitat training
- Results are not complete
- Level III certification
Project Learning Tree/Project WET Training
- Certified to train educators in both projects
- Will be attending additional training
- Can be tailored for all ages
Ohio Watershed Academy
- Through OSU Extension
- Six month training
- Assignments every two weeks
St. Marys River Projects
- Army Corps
- Allen County SWCD, Indiana
- Supplied information, received report on initial top priorities
Coordinators Upcoming Meetings/Trainings
- Auglaize County SWCD Planning Meeting, 8 a.m. January 3, 2008, Administrative Building
- Lake Improvement Association, 10 a.m. January 5, 2008, Celina Moose
- Spectrum, 12:15 January 11, 2008, WCSM
- Joint Board meeting, 4 p.m. January 24, 2008, upstairs 4-H meeting room
- Science and Civics Facilitator Training, January 25, 2008, Columbus
You will find the Watershed Agencys year end report as well as their official priorities list attached to this report.
Bob Grimm reported that 2007 was a busy year of events and activities for the Lake Improvement Association. He said the Lake Restoration Committee of the LIA is in full support with the GL/W Watershed Alliance and their goals and added they will be working with the Alliance to promote educational speakers and events. Grimm also noted that the LIA will be giving out an annual $500 scholarship which will be matched by the Western Ohio Education Foundation. It will be given to a student at Wright State University Lake Campus taking the Earth and Environmental Science Course of study.
Doug Temple noted that election of officers will take place next month.
With the upcoming building project planned at the campus, President Dabbelt decided the LDC meetings will be moved to the CVB Office for the duration of the project, beginning with the February Meeting. That meeting date is set for February 4, 4pm at the CVB Conference room. The CVB Office is located at 900 Edgewater Drive, St. Marys in Grand Lake St. Marys State Park.
With no further business to discuss, Terry Wissman moved for adjournment, a second was provided by Bob Grimm, motion carried.
The next LDC meeting date is February 4thnote location change to the CVB Office.
