Wednesday, September 25th, 2019
LFA OKs land buy; could house habitat, ed center
By Sydney Albert
CELINA - The Lake Facilities Authority has approved the purchase of two properties that could be used to create future wetland and grassland habitat or possibly an educational center.
LFA members on Tuesday approved using about $600,000 in Ohio Public Works Project Grant funds to buy the properties. One property, called the South Bay Motel or Southwest Greenspace Expansion, is located along U.S. 127 near State Route 703 and encompasses 17.019 acres. The other, the Gilliland Nature Preserve Expansion, is located along State Route 219 near Club Island Road and is about 16.31 acres. LFA members approved paying $337,422 for the Southwest Greenspace Expansion and $263,958 for the Gilliland Nature Preserve Expansion.
Theresa Dirksen of Ag Solutions said the properties could, with future grant funding, be developed into wetland or grassland habitat. She envisioned a future wetland on the Gilliland property, which sits at only a couple feet above lake level.
The South Bay Motel property would be more challenging to develop. Dirksen said the soil has all been disturbed, and excavation could prove to be difficult. Still, depending on future grant funds, it could make a great space for an educational center or grassland habitat.
Due to littoral wetlands and a goose refuge already on its borders, Dirksen said the property isn't connected directly to the lake and might not be as suitable to convert to wetland.
No plans for the properties have been set in stone yet, she noted.
In other business, a meeting of the Grand Lake Community Improvement Corp. was convened for the first time since May 2015. Members moved to submit paperwork to the Secretary of State's Office to renew the entity's 501(c)3 status. The organization applies for grants targeted specifically toward such groups and collects donations.
