2010-11-30_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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Best Regards, Leonard C. Ferrington Jr., Ph. D. GLWMO Board Chairperson 2009 -2010 to suggest that a regional coordinating group approach would be a better approach than having individual county agencies develop their own independent management plans. There is some reference to this concept in the plan, and the Board is aware that other groups have also identified this as a potential weakness or item of concern. We, too, would like the public record to indicate that there is some sentiment on our Board for broader coordination of efforts to protect and manage groundwaters. On behalf of the Board Members of the GLWMO, I would once again like to thank you for your willingness to accept our comments on the draft plan. I am including the verbatim written comments provided by some board members after our public discussion of your request during our recent Board meetings. We hope our comments and suggestions will add measurably to a comprehensive and successful regional management program to protect groundwater resources in Minnesota. Unedited written comments received from board members follow. Board Member #1 I think GLWMO will need to carefully consider how we fund these ideas as: "As stated in Section 1.3 Guiding Principles on page 4, how and when possible, water management jurisdictions (watershed districts and joint powers water management organizations) and public water providers are anticipated to be the primary financial resource for groundwater protection implementation in Ramsey County,. Ramsey County, through its Conservation District, should coordinate protection initiatives and seek to secure State and Federal funding opportunities." Reading the plan, my understanding is that, based on land area, RCD would approach GLWMO for funding for a percentage of the plan implementation costs. Roseville and Shoreview would then need to address how best to acquire the capital. The RCD does not list a groundwater specialist as a staff employee. How will this lack of technical expertise be handled? The draft is clearly not strongly synchronized with the small amount of funding that is currently identified. Consequently, there would seem to be a need for stronger commitment of state and county resources to this program as now outlined in the draft plan. My comments on specific questions follow. Question 1. Yes, in concept. Question 2. A GPP would clearly have increased financial burden for our WMO. It is not presently clear if we would be able to obtain increased financial support from our member Cities. Certainly more time would be needed from both the WMO board and the member Cities to adopt the necessary measures and compliance procedures. Planning, funding, executing and implementation of initiatives would