The Ohio Watercraft Safety Council passed a resolution June 15 that says using the Waterways Safety Fund for environmental mitigation would be a misuse of those funds not allowed by the Ohio Revised Code.
The fund is revenue collected from boat licensing fees and was created “to be the sole funding source for the state’s boating safety, education and law enforcement programs,” the resolution reads.
Also against the proposal is the Southern Ohio Marine Trade Association, according to a letter to Kasich from Edward F. Alf III, SOMTA president.
“That is what Grand Lake is, a watershed problem, not the boaters problem. As well we do not support the diversion of money from Southern Ohio to go to North Western Ohio after we have been promised this project for 30 years,” the letter reads.
Hazardous blue-green algae, which can produce harmful liver and nerve toxins, has returned to Grand Lake for the third year in a row. Proponents say the money is needed to continue dredging the lake and fix the problem which has devastated the local economy.
The marina project involves building a dock, bait and tackle shop and up to 300 slips for boat storage near the beach area at Caesar Creek Lake.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4542 or rwilson@coxohio.com.
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