2008-09-18 Veteran Advisory Committee Minutes

Home

Veterans Advisory Committee Page 3 September 18, 2008 Mr. Highley shared that he feels since DLNR provided grant to fund the reforestation project, they should also provide additional funding to pay the newly formed utility company for the excess water needed for plants. The water that the county is receiving for free or is paying for should only be for the cemetery. Reforestation Project is a Friends of the Park type program and not a part of the cemetery so Dr. Stevens should be responsible for that water. P &R Director Engelhard responded that she doesn't know if that is necessarily the case, however, from what she's been able to determine from her discussions and emails, the usage of the water at the cemetery is predicated on our being conservative. The first 5,000 gallons cost a lesser amount, the next 5,000 gallons cost a higher amount and the final 5,000 gallons cost the most. If we have to use all of the water that is allocated to us, it will cost the County approximately $3,000 a month if these per thousand gallon charges are approved. If price goes up, it will cost more than that. We would like to try to get the dryland forest to exist as a dryland forest rather than water it. Mr. Highley said he's in agreement with that. Director Engelhard said that if the County has to cut the water to the forest, all of the people who worked so hard on the project would be very upset. We don't want to be the bad guys, we want the dryland forest to be just that. Mr. Highley said project is fine, but plants should be financially supported by the source that provided funds for project. Mr. Lum said this is a non -issue because water priorities have been established. Priority 1 - Watering burial plots Priority 2 - Toilets Priority 3 - Reforestation Project Obviously if there is no water, you know which one goes. If we run out of water, its up to us to try to get the water in some way, shape or form, but he would not go so far to say the reforestation is completely divorced from the cemetery - no way. A lot of what was done in the cemetery, is partly attributed to the public support for the reforestation project. He believes we'll get the water somehow. P &R Director Engelhard commented that the County has been known to stop irrigation when there's no money. It hasn't happened in the last eight years, but it has happened before that. Chairwoman Fox will contact Dr. Stevens just to find out what's going on and when he estimates the dryland forest can be self - sufficient.