CLMC Makes Its Case
By PATRICK L. FANELLI
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9/22/2006 - Eight members of the Chautauqua Lake Management Commission made their case public Thursday for a proposed $567,360 spending plan, and it wasn’t entirely free of criticism.
Resident Jack Taylor wanted to know how Thursday’s public forum at the Robert H. Jackson Center was any different from so many others he has attended in the past.
‘‘For the last five years, I’ve been coming to meetings like this one,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘My taxes are three times as high and the weeds seem to be worse than ever. It seems to me that these meetings are great, but nothing positive happens.’’
Bill Evans, CLMC president, said he appreciated his frustrations — himself a longtime resident of Summit Street in Lakewood. But throughout his presentation before the crowd of about 50 residents, Evans stressed that the spending proposal isn’t just talk — it’s an action plan aimed at achieving both short-term and long-term results.
‘‘I’ve been here for 35 years, and this has never been done before,’’ Evans said.
It was the third public forum CLMC members held in Chautauqua County to promote the spending plan before the county legislature decides whether to pay for it, and according to Evans, the response from the public has been positive.
‘‘The public has been absolutely very supportive,’’ Evans said shortly after his presentation ended. ‘‘I’ve just got my fingers crossed.’’
Much of the presentation included disturbing photographs taken on the ground and in the air that captured the problems Chautauqua Lake faces. These included photographs of eroding streams, unwelcome deltas, weed-choked shorelines and bays clouded with silt.
‘‘That’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t have to happen,’’ Evans said.
The CLMC 2007 Action Plan was recently submitted to the county legislature for consideration. It includes 14 separate spending proposals, such as doubling the removal of lake weeds at a cost of $87,360; restoring the lakeshore and streambeds at a cost of $80,000; and controlling the flow of sedimentation and debris into the lake at a cost of $60,000 — all for both the short-term and long-term health of Chautauqua Lake.
‘‘We told the legislature, ‘We’re not asking you to change the world. We’re asking you to change the course of Chautauqua Lake so it will be usable for us now and so we can become good stewards in the future,’ ’’ Evans said.
While Evans was fielding questions from the audience, Vince Horrigan of Bemus Point stood and said their biggest challenge would not be convincing county legislators who represent lakefront municipalities, but convincing legislators from the northern half of the county and any other towns and villages far away from Chautauqua Lake.
Evans acknowledged that will be a challenge, which is why he emphasizes that much of the $140 million tourism brings to the county every year is driven by Chautauqua Lake.
‘‘It’s not just for the lake people,’’ said Duane Anderson, Lakewood Village Board member, who attended the forum as well. ‘‘This affects the whole county.’’
Evans is encouraging all residents to attend the Sept. 27 meeting of the county legislature, where a similar presentation will be given — or, at the very least, encourage their county legislators to approve the spending plan.
‘‘We would love you to stand shoulder to shoulder with us,’’ Evans said. ‘‘Like the Chinese proverb, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. We’ve taken more than just a few first steps, but there’s an awful, awful lot left to do.’’
Resident Jack Taylor wanted to know how Thursday’s public forum at the Robert H. Jackson Center was any different from so many others he has attended in the past.
‘‘For the last five years, I’ve been coming to meetings like this one,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘My taxes are three times as high and the weeds seem to be worse than ever. It seems to me that these meetings are great, but nothing positive happens.’’
Bill Evans, CLMC president, said he appreciated his frustrations — himself a longtime resident of Summit Street in Lakewood. But throughout his presentation before the crowd of about 50 residents, Evans stressed that the spending proposal isn’t just talk — it’s an action plan aimed at achieving both short-term and long-term results.
‘‘I’ve been here for 35 years, and this has never been done before,’’ Evans said.
It was the third public forum CLMC members held in Chautauqua County to promote the spending plan before the county legislature decides whether to pay for it, and according to Evans, the response from the public has been positive.
‘‘The public has been absolutely very supportive,’’ Evans said shortly after his presentation ended. ‘‘I’ve just got my fingers crossed.’’
Much of the presentation included disturbing photographs taken on the ground and in the air that captured the problems Chautauqua Lake faces. These included photographs of eroding streams, unwelcome deltas, weed-choked shorelines and bays clouded with silt.
‘‘That’s the kind of stuff that doesn’t have to happen,’’ Evans said.
The CLMC 2007 Action Plan was recently submitted to the county legislature for consideration. It includes 14 separate spending proposals, such as doubling the removal of lake weeds at a cost of $87,360; restoring the lakeshore and streambeds at a cost of $80,000; and controlling the flow of sedimentation and debris into the lake at a cost of $60,000 — all for both the short-term and long-term health of Chautauqua Lake.
‘‘We told the legislature, ‘We’re not asking you to change the world. We’re asking you to change the course of Chautauqua Lake so it will be usable for us now and so we can become good stewards in the future,’ ’’ Evans said.
While Evans was fielding questions from the audience, Vince Horrigan of Bemus Point stood and said their biggest challenge would not be convincing county legislators who represent lakefront municipalities, but convincing legislators from the northern half of the county and any other towns and villages far away from Chautauqua Lake.
Evans acknowledged that will be a challenge, which is why he emphasizes that much of the $140 million tourism brings to the county every year is driven by Chautauqua Lake.
‘‘It’s not just for the lake people,’’ said Duane Anderson, Lakewood Village Board member, who attended the forum as well. ‘‘This affects the whole county.’’
Evans is encouraging all residents to attend the Sept. 27 meeting of the county legislature, where a similar presentation will be given — or, at the very least, encourage their county legislators to approve the spending plan.
‘‘We would love you to stand shoulder to shoulder with us,’’ Evans said. ‘‘Like the Chinese proverb, the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. We’ve taken more than just a few first steps, but there’s an awful, awful lot left to do.’’
For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com
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