County approves matching funds for water grant
"This is a decision about the future."
Marion County Commission Chairman Dan Holub made the statement Thursday and the other commissioners agreed, voting 3-0 to provide the entire 40 percent matching portion, $75,200, of a grant to assess sedimentation at Marion Reservoir.
The total grant for phase I is $188,000, with 40 percent being $75,200.
Hillsboro and Marion cities were asked to participate in the project with Marion County providing $37,600 and Hillsboro and Marion each providing $18,800.
If Marion decides to participate, the county will not spend the total amount.
WRAPS administrator Peggy Blackman told the commission that a commitment to the matching portion was necessary to draw the remainder of the grant. Also a feasibility study had to be completed in order for the WRAPS program to continue.
The study would establish a base line of the rate sedimentation is occurring which directly influences the occurrences of blue-green algae toxins.
"The median count needs to be established before real-time monitoring is effective," Blackman said.
"The count is available through the World Health Organization," said Steve Garrett, administrator of the City of Hillsboro.
Blackman countered that WHO sets standards but these would be local lake conditions.
Hillsboro City Council decided Aug. 28 not to participate with the county in the WRAPS grant but instead will consider the option of working directly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
David Mayfield, administrator of the City of Marion, commented Marion City Council had not made a decision and the issue would be discussed at Monday's council meeting.
Blackman said real-time monitors are not addressed in the WRAPS grant because other departments are paying for the equipment.
"If Hillsboro spends money with a Corps project, those funds can be used as in-kind toward this grant," Blackman said.
"We have always cooperated with WRAPS and will continue to do so," Garrett said.
The origin of the study was a result of Kansas Department of Health and Environment requiring the reservoir to reduce sedimentation by 75 percent within five years. Sedimentation cannot be reduced, Blackman said, until a base is established. A bathymetric study (measurement of water depth) also is needed, Blackman said, and Marion Reservoir has been on a "short list" since 1982.
Blackman stressed that she was not looking at this project as being two-sided with the county going one direction with the WRAPS program and Hillsboro going another with the Corps.
"I don't intend to duplicate efforts," she said.
Holub said he sees this as a business expense, providing drinking water to communities and revenue as a recreation attraction.
"Eighteen thousand dollars is a small price to pay," he said.
One of the reasons Hillsboro City Council did not want to participate, Garret said, was because Hillsboro residents have already paid their share of taxes to the county.
Mayfield clarified that the city does not make money from water production. Water revenue is used for bond and interest payments for required plant upgrades, as dictated by KDHE, and maintenance of water lines.
"If the city were to participate with the county, we'd have to figure out how to pay for it," Mayfield said.
Based on Hillsboro's participation, Mayfield had determined that water service could increase $12.82 per customer per year for Marion customers. With Hillsboro out of the mix, Mayfield did not have an exact amount for the increase but said he was concerned about an increase because it may be a deterrent for economic development.
Commissioner Bob Hein made the motion and Holub seconded it.
During discussion of the motion prior to voting, commissioner Randy Dallke said he had reservations about participating since it did not include the entire county. Dallke did agree that the county needed to plan for the future and did vote with the other two commissioners to approve it.
The commission also approved a resolution to establish a county surface water quality advisory board.
