The Ohio General Assembly’s decision to temporarily postpone an assessment by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has prompted the MWCD board to begin 2008 with a temporary budget plan.
Members of the MWCD Board of Directors will take some additional time early in the New Year to review the conservancy district’s proposed $10.12 million budget plan before approving a final version for the year.
Recent action by the Ohio General Assembly to temporarily halt collection of a planned assessment by the MWCD that was slated to begin in 2008 produced updates to the budget presented to Board members for consideration at a recent meeting.
Board member Richard Pryce of Canton said he believes it is prudent for the Board to postpone approval of the budget until the Board can take additional time to review the budget for efficiencies. Board members authorized the MWCD administration and staff to use a temporary spending plan for the first part of the year with only necessary expenses to be approved.
“This is a very prudent, thoughtful approach to the budget that is being taken by the Board of Directors as we look toward 2008 and beyond,” said John M. Hoopingarner, MWCD executive director/secretary. “Certainly we had a number of changes for 2008 that occurred in a very hectic period of time in the last couple of weeks. We can use the early portion of the New Year to talk with the Board about the budget and how best to utilize our resources to serve the residents of the Muskingum River Watershed.”
Board members discussed the need for a possible multi-day retreat planning session to be held early next year to discuss the budget and other matters. A schedule will be developed.
During its final session of 2007, the Ohio General Assembly approved legislation that placed a temporary hold on the planned collection of an estimated $10.4-million annual assessment by the MWCD. Dollars generated by the assessment were earmarked for projects in the watershed to protect residents and property from the damage associated with flooding and to rehabilitate aging dams and reservoirs.
Collection of the assessment and projects related to major rehabilitation of the system of reservoirs and dams in the watershed were scheduled to begin in 2008.
MWCD Board members and officials have pledged to work with legislators, other public officials and residents who have concerns about the conservancy district. Two members of the Board – Pryce and David Parham of the Atwood Lake area in Carroll County – have been assigned by the Board to take the lead in the discussions.
The budget plan presented to the Board for consideration contained a projected surplus of slightly more than $6,700 for the year. Expenses are expected to increase about 2 percent for the year, with revenue basically holding at 2007 levels, according to James B. Cugliari, MWCD chief financial officer/treasurer.
The MWCD, a political subdivision of the state, was organized in 1933 to develop and implement a plan for flood reduction and water conservation in the Muskingum River Watershed, an 18-county area in east-central Ohio. By 1938, 14 dams and reservoirs were constructed - two others were built later - and the system has prevented billions of dollars in potential property damage from flooding and provided water for public uses.
The MWCD is the only large conservancy district in the state that has not levied an assessment but needs to do so now because of the aging of its reservoirs and dams. The MWCD assessment would collect about $210 million over the next 20 years and it would be used as a local match to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds for projects in the region.
The counties wholly or partially contained in the MWCD jurisdiction are Ashland, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Washington and Wayne.
In other business, the Board:
- Elected Parham to serve as president of the Board during 2008 and Pryce to serve as vice president.
- Approved camping rates and other fees at its seven overnight campground operations for 2008. In general, seasonal camping rates were increased by 2.5 percent with daily rates frozen at 2007 levels for the five lake park campgrounds. The MWCD operates campgrounds at Atwood, Charles Mill, Pleasant Hill, Seneca and Tappan lake parks, along with facilities at the Kokosing campgrounds in Knox County and the campgrounds near Clow’s Marina at Leesville Lake.
- Was informed that a group of eight employees eligible to vote for union representation by the Fraternal Order of Police, Ohio Labor Council, have approved the union’s establishment during a recent secret-ballot process.
- Approved recognition awards for the following staff members on their years of service with the MWCD during 2007: John A. Traxler and Bruce Horsfall, 25 years; James R. Bishop Jr., 15 years; and Mary C. Burley, Gina L. Ferri, Troy R. Hannahs, Darrell G. Larkin, Lynn E. Lyons, William J. Martin Jr. and Phillip L. Wolfe, 10 years.
- Held an executive session to discuss pending litigation with no action taken.
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