Community support sought for watershed grant
By TOM GIAMBRONILISBON - The organization dedicated to protecting the Little Beaver Creek is seeking the support of local communities in obtaining a state grant to help in continuing those efforts.
Lisa Butch, watershed coordinator for the Little Beaver Creek Land Foundation, is visiting city and village councils and township trustees to seek their support in her efforts to obtain a grant through the Ohio Balanced Growth Program.
The purpose of the program is to provide funds for local organizations to develop voluntary watershed protection plans that balance environmental concerns while identifying areas within the watershed that could support development.
Butch said if their grant application is approved, a committee would be formed to develop a balanced-growth plan, identifying areas that need protected and those that could support development. Members would include representatives from local governments, environmental groups and business.
Participation in the plan is strictly voluntary, with each city, village and township within the watershed deciding whether to join after the plan has been drafted. Adherence to the plan is also voluntary.
"The whole idea is consensus based, so even if it isn't legally binding the people would still hopefully follow (the plan) because they believe it to be a good thing," she said.
The Little Beaver Creek Watershed encompasses the west, middle, north and main forks of the Little Beaver Creek, but for the purposes of this grant, the land foundation is focusing only on the Middle Fork watershed. The following areas fall within the Middle Fork watershed: Salem, Leetonia, Washingtonville and Lisbon, and Perry, Salem, Center, Fairfield, Elkrun, Madison and Middleton townships.
Butch is visiting officials in those communities to ask they send letters in support of the application by the Nov. 30 filing deadline. She said these letters are in no way a binding commitment to participate in the yet-to-be-developed plan.
The communities that eventually chose to participate in the plan will receive some benefits, Butch said, such as extra points on grant applications for state funds and lower interest rates when obtaining state loans. Businesses located in a participating community also would be eligible for tax breaks.
The grant application is in the amount of $95,200 and is for two years. The bulk of the money would help pay for Butch, whose position is currently funded with a federal grant.
A total of $800,000 has been set aside for these planning projects, and grants are expected to be awarded in mid-December.
