Wet Weather Initiative
    

Meeting Minutes

     
May 31, 2001

Present: 

  • Holly Utrata-Halcomb, Chair
  • Cory Chadwick, HCDOES
  • Jim Rozelle, FMSU
  • Jason Hanauer, HCGHD
  • Anne Lyon, Greenacres Foundation
  • Karen Ball, HC Commission (Portune)
  • Tom Ryther, Mariemont
  • Brian Bohl, HCSWCD
  • David Sparke, Anderson Township
  • Bill Brayshaw, HC Engineer
  • Ted Hubbard, HCEO
  • Gary Van Hart, HCDPW
  • John Hunter, LWVCA&MCRP
  • Jeff Leedy, HCDPW
  • Sam George, SMU/MSD
  • Jane Wittke, OKI
  • Neil Tunison, Warren County Engineer
  • Chuck Petty, WCEO

NEW LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVE

Niel Tunison, Warren County Engineer, presented a summary of and answered questions relating to H.B. 549 which became effective March 12, 2001. H. B. 549 broadens and clarifies a county's authority with respect to storm water improvement projects. Mr. Tunison distributed an outline of the provisions of H.B.549 as prepared by Christopher J. Franzmann of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. Several of the key new provisions are:

  • Counties have broadened authority to:
    • establish, consolidate or modify sewer districts within the county and outside municipal boundaries;
    • acquire, construct, maintain and operate drainage facilities within or outside of the district to conduct waters for treatment or disposition.
  • Counties can contract for management, operation, maintenance, and repair of drainage facilities and for outlet/treatment/disposal of drainage waters.
  • The board of county commissioners must offer to the county engineer an agreement for assistance in performing its duties pertaining to drainage facilities. The county engineer has 30 days to accept or reject the offer. The board is authorized to create a sanitary engineering department.
  • The Board may adopt and enforce rules for the construction, maintenance, protection and use of county-owned or operated drainage facilities within or outside of municipal corporations that discharge into facilities owned or operated by the county.
  • The Board's prior approval of plans and specifications for the construction of drainage facilities outside a municipal corporation.
  • County Sanitary Engineers have right of entry to both public and private properties for surveys and inspections.
  • The Board fixes rates and fees for properties served by drainage facilities and manages fee collection.
  • Definitions are broadened, modernized and supplemented. Many procedures are specified.

 

To read the H.B. 549 Legislation - go to the Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District Web site at www.hcswcd.org

A discussion was held of the question of township and county responsibility for responding to EPA Stormwater Phase II requirements. Chapter 71.01 of the ORC states that "1980 H268, effective 4-9-81 effectively removed from the law any responsibility on the part of township government to improve, clean or repair township ditches, drains and watercourses…" A county regulation was cited which authorizes townships to respond to federal requirements. The question remains open but county leadership is encouraged by the new legislation. Warren County has engaged FMS to perform a watershed-based study of the feasibility of forming a stormwater district. 

WET WEATHER HCEPP INITIATIVE REPORT TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COMMISION FOR 2000

Holly Utrata-Halcomb distributed a report (see attached file) listing achievement of six of the eight goals for the WWI and progress on a seventh. Lack of responsiveness by OEPA prevented completion of one goal. After some discussion it was agreed to set new goals at the next meeting to continue to address the WWI basic mission.

GREENACRES OEEF GRANT -DEVELOPING A DATABASE ON WATER QUALITY
Anne Lyon reported on an extensive volunteer effort to gather water quality data. A grant from OEEF has been secured to develop centralized data collection and reporting system. The data would be used for community education, not enforcement. A demonstration project would be carried out on the Little Miami River and the Mill Creek watershed in cooperation with MCWC, MCRP, UC Joint Center for Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Analysis, the US EPA National Risk Management Research Lab, and local public agencies. The hope is that this project will serve as a model that others can use statewide. WWI discussion was supportive and an interest was expressed in participating with the project as it progresses. Ann Lyon passed around a sign-up sheet for those who wish to serve on various committees.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Southwest Ohio Turfgrass Expo

Wednesday, July 18, 2001 8:00 am to 2:30 pm at the Techsolve Corporation (formerly the IAMS Center) 111 Edison Drive, Cincinnati 

The Expo is intended to promote better land management practices by developers, builders, sub-contractors, landscape contractors, designers, installers, and managers. It is co-sponsored by Hamilton County, Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District and OSU Extension. Display space is available (call (513)772-7645. Fee - $25.00 Registration deadline July 11, 2001.

Sustainable Cincinnati - Indicators Project

An initiative has begun to develop 10 to 20 measurements of regional health in the economic, social, and environmental areas by a collaboration of 55 organizations in the OKI region. The indicators are for raising awareness, informing decisions, and measuring progress. One of the environmental measures will be in the area of stormwater management and the WWI is asked to consider an appropriate indicator for the issue. Percent impervious cover by watershed has been suggested. 

The next WWI meeting will be held July 19, 2001 at 9:30 am at 250 W. H. Taft, Cincinnati, Ohio.


HCEPP INITIATIVE EVALUATION FORM

Please answer the following questions that are designed to help the Environmental Action Commission document the progress your respective HCEPP Initiative made during 2000. All responses should be developed in such a manner that they are suitable for inclusion in a press release to local media. 

HCEPP Initiative: Wet Weather Initiative

1. Has the Initiative established a mission statement?

List mission statement: Develop a regional approach to stormwater planning and management based on watersheds, that address surface and groundwater contamination as well as flooding, soil erosion and property damage.

2. Has the Initiative established clearly defined goals?

List goals: 

  1. Maintain dialog between county and local agencies responsible for any aspect of stormwater.
  2. Support the efforts of organizations working on comprehensive watershed plans for the Great Miami River, Mill Creek and Little Miami River.
  3. Garner Community Input and support for a comprehensive stormwater study to assess the county's option in complying with the NPDES Phase II regulations.
  4. Have members work with OEPA and County Commissioners Association of Ohio to gain information on how to gain authority and enforcement ability in order to fulfill the NPDES Phase II requirements.
  5. Make a presentation and proposal to the Hamilton County Commissioners to commission a comprehensive stormwater study.
  6. Have WWI Member(s) serve on the oversight committee for this study.
  7. Facilitate communication between neighboring counties concerning the dynamics and impacts of stormwater.
  8. Develop Signage for stream crossing to educate landowners and what a watershed is and how their actions affect it.

3. Did the Initiative make significant progress towards achieving its goals in 2000?

List achievements: Goals 1,2,3,5,6,7 have been achieved. Goal 4 was attempted through monthly meetings, however the dialog ended in March 2001 because OEPA could not or would not be more specific than their general requirement statements.
Goals 7&8 are in progress.

4. Has there been any measurable improvement in the local environment that can be attributed to this Initiative during 2000?

List improvements: Communication between agencies continues to progress leading to better customer service. Hamilton County Soil & Water Conservation District received a state grant to remove logjams caused by the 1997 flood. The County agencies have worked together to identify logjams. Thus far 14 major logjams have been removed which surely reduces the risk of flooding.

5. Did the Initiative receive enough stakeholder support in 2000 to be successful?

List active stakeholders: We have many agency and organizational stakeholders; however, the private landowner is under represented. We would like to increase this number in 2001.

6. Did the Initiative secure enough financial support in 2000 to be successful?

List funding sources: No extra funding was raised in 2000. Printing, e-mails, meeting space, secretarial services has all been donated by member county agencies.

7. Has the Initiative developed next steps for the year 2001?

List next steps: 

  1. Monitor the Countywide stormwater study and contribute assistance where needed.
  2. Initiate watershed/stream signage. Pursue a 319 grant to fund future effort in the four county areas as well as a publicity campaign.
  3. Coordinate the storm drain labeling program countywide.
  4. Develop a web site.

8. Who is the lead contact person for this Initiative? Holly Utrata-Halcomb

Name: Holly Utrata-Halcomb
Telephone #: 772-7645


HAMILTON COUNTY SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT :: 2009

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