Don Strimbeck
Brad Allamong
Tom Bartlett
Anthony Giambrone
Chuck Joseph
Frank Jemejcic
Wallace Venable
Tim Terman
Barry Pallay
Joe Duperre
Jessie Reckart
Matt Cybulski
I. Minutes of August 12, 2005. In the absence of Commissioner Bell, the committee members read the minutes of the meeting of August 12, 2005. The minutes were approved with minor changes.
Wally Venable corrected the third bullet point, the line reading, "The approximate cost for this 1 FTE is $200,000 ($100,000 for FTE and $100,000 for a boat)." With corrections, this line now reads, "The approximate cost is $100,000 for one FTE and $100,000 in start-up costs for the purchase of a boat."
Wally Venable, UMRA, moved the minutes of August 12, 2005, be approved as amended.Anthony Giambrone, Mon. County Litter Control Officer, seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.
II. Old business
A. Review Action Plan, additions/ changes
Brad Allamong, CVF, acting chair in the absence of Commissioner Bell, asked for comments on the "Action Plan for Eliminating Litter in the Upper Monongehela River," submitted by Tim Terman, Mon Kayak Tours.
General discussion:
Frank Jemejcic, DNR, asked that the committee define "litter" for the purposes of the Action Plan. The committee noted that the Army Corps of Engineers use the terms "drift" and "debris," rather than "litter." The committee determined that "debris" is the correct term to employ in future discussion and communication, internal and external
Bullet 1:
G. Thomas Bartlett, UMRA, noted that he traveled the Tygart between the dam and Valley Falls, and found the banks and river to be relatively free of debris. From his observations, he determined that that portion of the Tygart does not need a formal "River Sweep."
Chuck Joseph, DEP, noted that he had contacted the Guardians of the West Fork, and would continue to work with them to spread the geographic area included in the tentative River Sweep. Mr. Joseph then asked Mr. Giambrone to spearhead the Morgantown area portion of the River Sweep initiative by contacting watershed groups, scout troops, and other area volunteer organizations.
The first week of May 2006 was discussed for a Spring River Sweep. Factors affecting the date of the Sweep included end of WVU spring academic semester, Morgantown Triathlon, river levels, and general temperature.
Bullet 2:
Wally Venable suggested the creation of a small group separate from the Mon River Debris Committee to monitor debris levels on the Monongehela, and possibly the West Fork River. This group would digitally photograph certain points on the rivers at regular intervals to monitor the increasing or decreasing levels of debris. Mr. Jernejcic suggested that the least the committee would need would be visual documentation of increasing and decreasing levels of debris at the Morgantown and Opekiska dams. In anticipation of the September 16, 2005 meeting with Mr. Lockwood of the Army Corps of Engineers, Mr. Venable and Barry Pallay volunteered to draft a monitoring plan.
Bullet 3:
Accepted.
Bullet 4:
Mr. Giambrone has included clean waterway issues in the "Keep America Safe" program in Mon County Schools. This program is presented in cooperation with the Mon County Solid Waste Authority, the City of Morgantown, the Monongalia County Commission, and BOPARC. Mr. Giambrone is currently targeting middle school students.
Bullet 5:
Brad Allamong suggested that the Action Plan wording be changed to reflect the many possible benefits of a partnership between the Mon River Debris Committee and the Army Corps of Engineers. This bullet now reads: "Form a partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers to accomplish the goals of this Action Plan."
Bullet 6:
Accepted.
Bullet 7:
Accepted.
Bullet 8:
Accepted.
Bullet 9:
Mr. Giambrone suggested that groups who commit to participating in the tentative River Sweeps be rewarded by a sign, similar to those dedicated to Adopt-A-Highway participants. Strategies will develop further this fall.
III. New Business
IV. Other
Barry Pallay suggested taking the Action Plan to the next Region VI Board meeting. Concerns were raised that this could create an expectation of immediate action. Mr. Pallay and other attendees did not agree with this concern, and believed that communication with the Region VI Board could ultimately result in funding opportunities.
Frank Jernejcic suggested that the Committee search for possible Marion and Harrison County representatives, especially since the Committee views the West Fork as a probably source for much of the debris on the Upper Mon.
V The next meeting is scheduled for September 9, 2006, 10:00 AM, at the Morgantown Chamber of Commerce Conference Room.
VI. Brad Allamong moved the meeting be adjourned.
Wally Venable seconded.
The motion passed unanimously.