DEERFIELD REGIONAL STORM WATER DISTRICT
REGULAR DISTRICT BOARD MEETING
Snyder House, Cottell Park
Loveland, OH 45140
September 6, 2005
CALL TO ORDER:
President Susan Berger called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M.
ATTENDANCE:
Those present at the meeting were:
Board Members: Susan Berger, Walt Daniels, and Jeff Thomas
Attorney: Eric Luckage, Esq., Albers & Albers
Engineering: Jamie Coleman – CDM Engineering
Cathy Herrick, DRSW Administrative Assistant was absent with notice.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The meeting minutes dated August 9, 2005 and August 29, 2005 were reviewed.
Ř Action Taken/Required: Jeff Thomas made a motion, seconded by Susan Berger to accept the meeting minutes. Vote: All Yes
REPORTS OF BOARD, AND COMMITTEES
PAYMENT OF THE BILLS: Cathy Herrick, SWD Administrative Assistant, presented her time for August and wages in the amount of $157.50. Eric Luckage, Esq., Albers and Albers, Attorneys at Law, presented their invoice number 11704 in the amount of $2,460.50 for legal services rendered.
Ř Action Taken/Required: Motion by Walt Daniels and seconded by Jeff Thomas to accept and pay for the invoices listed above. Vote: All Yes
Jeff Thomas presented to the Board, the DRSWD fund balances as of September 6, 2005.
Correspondence from Larry Weis, of Deerfield Township was presented which was received from the OEPA, containing notification of the upcoming NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit fees coming due. In addition, a letter to Mr. Weis was presented regarding the WPCLF (Water Pollution Control Loan Fund).
Ms. Berger mentioned that she had corresponded via email with Stuart Smetts, a member of the public, regarding the concerns which he had presented at the August 9, 2005, Board Meeting.
SPECIAL ORDERS
None.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND GENERAL ORDERS
Meeting with Deerfield Township: Susan Berger and members of CDM met with Larry Weis and Lois McKnight of Deerfield Township on August 11, 2005 to get an update on the Simpson Creek Watershed project. Also present where the Township attorneys and Rick Evans of Henderson Bodwell. Dan Evers, Deerfield Township Administrator, attended briefly but was called away. Rick Evans presented an overview of the project and a progress report to date. He said that one pond would be constructed on Township-owned property in Schappacher Park. The second pond, which is critical to the project because it handles runoff from Governors Point and Woodland Trace, needed to be located on property belonging to Cinergy, Warren County, and two private residents. The project has been delayed because studies needed to be done for FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the EPA to prove that the project would not disrupt the warm-water habitat designated at the point where Simpson Creek enters the Little Miami River. Both FEMA and the Army Corp have issued their Okays. The Ohio EPA generally does not like ponds to be developed on streambeds, so the project engineers had to prove that the ponds are self-mitigating. The EPA also asked for some wetlands branches to help with erosion, nutrients, etc.
Currently, Henderson Bodwell hopes to submit their application to the OHEPA for a 401 Water Quality Certificate by the end of August. There will then be a 30 day period for public notice. If anyone or any group objects, then the project will go to public hearing and could take up to six months for approval. If no one objects, approval could come in three to four months. Once the OHEPA issues their certificate, the project should only take a few months to build.
The other issue is land acquisition. The home owners were approached at the beginning of the project, but when the EPA became involved, the land negotiations stopped. Ms. Berger asked who should negotiate for the land, the Township or the District. The Township attorneys advised that the Township should because it is their money, their project, and they can start it soon. They recommend that the Township get an updated appraisal for the value of the land and that Dan Evers and Larry Weiss approach the owners. They also suggested that the land negotiation could start immediately with the contract being contingent on OHEPA certification.
There was also a brief discussion about the need to dredge Landen Lake. Rick Evans suggested that the dredging happen after the ponds are built. He was hopeful that, with the more stringent construction and post-construction requirements and with the two new ponds, sedimentation would happen over a longer period next time.
Accountant Update:
Eric Luckage reported that he had reviewed the engagement letter from Paul Rennick of Balestra, Harr & Scherer, Consultants, LLC, Certified Public Accountants. Eric said that he discussed this information with Mr. Rennick and it was his opinion that he was comfortable with the reasons that Balestra,Harr & Scherer Consultants, LLC, CPA’s were chosen as the potential accountants for the DRSWD. Susan Berger added that she would prefer that the District would utilize the QuickBooks accounting program versus Peachtree.
Ř Action Taken/Required: Walt Daniels made a Motion to accept and authorize the Board to sign the engagement letter with Balestra, Harr, and Scherer, Consultants, LLC, CPA’s for accounting services and that the District would work directly with Paul Rennick of said firm. Susan Berger seconded the Motion. Vote: All Yes.
CMD Update: Jamie Coleman presented an email he received from Marsha Rolph, Urban Stream Specialist, Warren County SWCD, regarding watershed sign purchasing. Mr. Coleman further reported that CDM has digitalized all commercial, non-residential development and are currently updating the information with all development that has occurred since 2000.
SWAC Update: Jamie Coleman presented a program analysis at the meeting of the Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC) held on August 31, 2005. Mr. Coleman distributed a copy of the handout presented to the SWAC members at the meeting indicating Level of Service and Program Costs. Jamie further reported that the SWAC field trip was scheduled for Tuesday, September 13, 2005, at 2:00 P.M.
Water Shed Signage Update: Susan Berger reported that Dan Evers asked to wait a few weeks before beginning the negotiations for the intergovernmental contract.
Deerfield Day Update: The schedule for DRSWD participants and booth setup were discussed. It was stated that the booth set-up needed to be completed by 11:00 A.M. with the operating hours to be from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 P.M. Susan Berger had established a schedule of the shifts and persons who had volunteered to man the DRSWD booth. Ms. Berger also reported that she had gathered various handouts and children’s activities to be placed in the booth. Jeff Thomas had temporary tattoos for the children, as well as, a sign from Mill Creek to place at the booth. Additionally, Susan Berger advised that she had priced the cost of purchasing a sign that could be created at Kinko’s that could be utilized to visualize the presence of DRSWD on the booth and at possible future events. Ms. Berger reported the various sizes, types and estimated costs of said sign. It was agreed that the Board would purchase a color 24” x 36” sign at the cost of $90.00.
Ř Action Taken/Required: Walt Daniels made a Motion to purchase a 24” x 36” color sign at the cost of $90.00 from Kinko’s. Jeff Thomas seconded the Motion. Vote: All Yes.
NEW BUSINESS
None
COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS
None
COMMENTS FROM GENERAL PUBLIC
None
Eric Luckage presented the following previously adopted resolutions for signature of the Board: Resolution 2005-28, Approving payment of monthly bills, Resolution 2005-29, Approval of payment to secure booth at Deerfield Day, Resolution 2005-30, Storage of Important Documents at the offices of Albers & Albers, Attorneys at Law.
MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT
Walt Daniels made a Motion, seconded by Jeff Thomas, to adjourn at 8:40 P.M. Vote: All Yes.
Next Regular Meeting: October 11, 2005.
The Deerfield Regional Storm Water District Board meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., unless otherwise notified.