Thegatewaynews.com - Conservancy district takes step forward

Commissioners sign petition 2-1; David Gross' water quality trading plan at issue

by Mike Sever

Record-Courier staff writer

Ravenna -- Portage County commissioners recently voted 2-1 to send a petition to form a countywide conservancy district on to county court.

A common pleas judge now will have 60 days to set a date for a public hearing on the issue. The judge will determine whether creating the district is for the benefit of county residents.

Until the public hearing, any property owner within the county may file objections to the organization of the district. If the court disposes of any objections, it may issue an order creating the district.

Streetsboro property owner David Gross is seeking to establish the countywide conservancy district that would, among other things, pay landowners for the right to conduct water pollution prevention projects on their properties.

Prior to the commissioners' vote, several people, including members of the Streetsboro Planning Commission, spoke about the proposed district.

John Albaneze, a Ward 1 planning commissioner, said county commissioners should look at the proposal in depth.

"It puts us on the line for a lot of things," he said. "It puts the district on par with county commissioners. It's going to be very expensive."

He objected to the district having the ability to assess property owners.

James McIntyre, also a city planning commission member, said he respects Gross and his imagination.

"He comes up with great ideas; unfortunately, I don't like this one," McIntyre said. He warned that the district's three directors "will have more power than you three commissioners ... Once you create this board you have very little control on the direction it takes."

Brett McClafferty, a Streetsboro planning commission member, said he had a different take, that he trusts the court system to make a good decision on the district's creation. He said he believes the district could reduce costs for storm water management.

"There is a paranoia in Streetsboro over development," McClafferty said. "Trust me, there has been poor development in the past, but it is irresponsible to apply that logic to any future development plans."

Commissioner Maureen Frederick voted against the measure because the district would have, among its powers, the ability to assess property owners without benefit of a vote by the public.

Commissioner Chris Smeiles, who voted for the measure, said he "tries to take the long view -- if the district will be a benefit to people long after we are all gone."

He compared it to the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority, the county park district and port authority.

"Based on [those] others, it seems to be a positive. Can it be abused? Absolutely. Are there checks and balances? I believe there are. If there is an abuse of power, will there be accountability? I believe so."

Commissioner Chuck Keiper, who voted for the measure, said he is "frustrated by our constant insistence to get on the back edge of every curve. Other communities get enormous benefit and ours [gets] none" from new governmental tools and techniques.

"I believe the conservation district is a remarkable tool. There is untapped market for water credits to Cuyahoga and Summit counties, which have the biggest polluters," said Keiper. "So, we could have enhanced green space at no cost to you, no cost to Streetsboro, no cost to the taxpayers we represent."

The district would fund its projects by selling credits from improved water quality to wastewater treatment plant operators. Buying the credits would save the operators from having to make costlier plant improvements to reach the same water quality levels.

"The cost of removing pollutants upstream is much cheaper than at the wastewater treatment plant," Gross said when he proposed the idea to commissioners in June.

Mitigation projects upstream could be done at a tenth of the cost of re-engineering wastewater treatment plants, Gross said. The net effect is the same water quality improvements at lower costs.

The conservancy district would also be able to initiate flood prevention projects, stream channel regulation, reclaiming overflowed lands, and preservation and restora other riparian areas.

Within 30 days of creating the district, the court will appoint three people to serve as the district's board of directors.

Gross is proposing that he serve on the board along with Karen Wise, who is head of water resource for The Davey Tree Expert Co., and Dr. Robert Heath, former head of Kent State University's Water Resources Research Institute.

E-mail:

msever@recordpub.com

Phone: 330 298-1125