After spending the week in Tallahassee, Supervisor Mike Welch reported to the Board of the East County Water Control District (ECWCD) at its monthly meeting March 23 that the district will receive $2.2 million in stimulus loan money for Harns Marsh Phase I.

The Environmental Protection Agency allocated to Florida $132 million in loan funds for water projects. Welch spoke with the Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on local water projects, he said.

This loan will finance three Harns Marsh water structures and replacement for the failed Yellowtail weirs 1a and 1b.

This will add approximately $161,627 to the annual debt service for the 20-year loan. Exact terms of the loan were not immediately known.

At the public comment period David J. Dale, President of Owen Ames Kimball Company, the current project manager, made a proposal to the board on building its maintenance building.

The company proposed to build the building with a 50 year land lease and lease it to the district at a monthly rent of $11,233 or $134,800 annually. There would be a 1.75 percent escalation in rent after the third year. The district would have an option to purchase at $1,488,763 after the fifth year with normal closing costs.

For this year the board has revised its process for developing the FY2009-2010 budget. They will hold three additional board meetings on May 4, June 29, and August 10 devoted to budget issues.

All of these meetings will be on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at district headquarters. In addition the appointed Finance/Budget Committee will meet one week after the board meeting to implement the directions of the board.

These meetings are open to the public.

The ECWCD will meet at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, April 27, at 6:30 p.m. at District Headquarters on Construction Lane off of Lee Blvd.

The public is encouraged to attend the meeting.