I must say that the politics whirling around the polluting of Grand Lake St. Marys is the absolute worse I have ever seen. After talking with our state elected officials from the area, I am amazed at how little they care about the people living in their districts who are suffering great personal financial loss due to the continued polluting of Grand Lake St. Marys.
These elected officials are fully aware that the lake is unhealthy for users and for drinking water; people have or are losing jobs; businesses are still struggling or having to shut down; property values of homes in the lake area are losing 30-50% of their value and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have refused mortgage lending based on GLSM being too polluted; $60-80million/yr. lost to the local economies in tourism dollars; higher water prices because of the added expense of attempting to filter out the toxins in the lake primarily caused by nutrient run-off; loss tax revenue due to less people visiting the area, the lower sale prices for homes, and less businesses contributing sales tax; but these elected officials still stand firm to protect the farmers dumping manure in the GLSM watershed.
According to the U.S. Census Data, agriculture is 1% of the economic sector in Mercer Co. Why are our local and elected officials willing to sacrifice the losses mentioned above by citizens in the area for a hand full of livestock producers who are addicted to their form of government welfare. These livestock producers don't want to change their farming practices for the good of everyone in the watershed!
In fact, the State of Ohio is paying these farmers to pollute. What do I mean by this? The State allows farmers to dump raw and untreated manure into the lake rather than having to pay to have it hauled out. Disposal of waste is paid by everyone whether it is industrial waste or personal garbage. It is a legitimate business expense. So, why do livestock manufacturing facilities get a free ride?
Currently, the State of Ohio is paying local livestock producers to pollute our waterways by shifting this expense to the general public. I was first amused by this line the first time I heard it. "Farmers are paid to pollute." I quickly realized the very sad truth about this statement. Livestock producers are allowed to freely spread their animals' by-products, namely manure, growth hormones and antibiotics, without having to pay for the expense of proper disposal. Proper disposal would prevent these nutrients from entering and polluting Grand Lake St. Marys.
So, how is John/Jane Doe subsidizing it? As loss tourism dollars impact our local governments and their services, ex. higher water prices, and lower tax revenues due to property values dropping 30-50%. We are faced with higher taxes shouldered by the other 99% of the economic sector. YES!! According to the latest US Census Data, agribusiness represents only 1% of the economic sector in Mercer County.
The actions of our state and local officials to protect this 1% at the expense of the other 99% is deplorable. As the communities around Grand Lake St. Marys continue to decline economically because of the unstifled pollution, I wondered, "what are elected officials thinking? This is not sustainable, sorry Rep. Buchy, I know you don't like that word. But let's look at what is meant by the word - "sustainable". According to the United States Government the definition is the following:
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.
Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This sounds pretty reasonable! So, why does the state and local elected officials and governments think sustainable clean water cannot be reached since livestock producers won't pay for the disposal of their facilities' waste in a way that makes the watershed sustainable for everyone. It's perplexing, especially since agribusiness has drawn down a quarter of a BILLION dollars in the last twenty years. Interesting isn't it? In the last twenty years, we have seen the livestock population increase by approximately 40% and this doesn't include chickens. So, with that amount of government subsidy for the livestock producers, it seems they are better positioned to pay for hauling out their manure than the rest of us.
So, I think it a good idea for the other 99% of the economic sector and the general public, if all garbage disposal is free. The cost to local government for the free collection of all waste should be recovered by a livestock and chicken per head tax. Also, funds from this tax could pay for the additional filtration system being used by the City of Celina in an attempt to provide clean drinking water for the City of Celina. This approach would allow for water prices to fall back to normal for the general public. Now that would begin leveling the playing field for the non-livestock producers in the area. Local elected officials should not discriminate on who receives free services.
People in the area must not give up hope that something will be done about the polluting of GLSM. The struggle with the State of Ohio and livestock producers in the watershed has been going on for two decades. Which, oh by the way, is why it has taken nearly two decades for the lake to get this polluted.
It's time for people to get serious about cleaning up the lake and protecting the assets of our community which are slowly being destroyed by nutrient run-off and its complications.
In a recent meeting with Sen. Keith Faber, he threatened that "this lake doesn't have to remain a recreational lake." Which was followed by this following simple question put to Sen. Faber, "Is there any benefit to the State of Ohio in NOT cleaning up this lake?" Needless to say, Sen. Faber was outraged by this comment. But really folks, think about it, he knows the economic impact the pollution is costing the communities around GLSM has experienced, so why does he continue to protect the livestock producers.
The reality is that the state and local elected officials and administrators are all in lock-step together to protect these livestock producers at ALL costs which are our health, our investments, our jobs, our businesses and our services.
As these leaders, protect their pockets, they expect the rest of us to pay the price. As one member stated to Rep. Buchy at our first public meeting, "The State should cleanup this lake before someone gets sick and dies", of which Rep. Buchy responded, "people die everyday". This attitude is systemic throughout local and state government and it will never change unless the general public finds the energy to step up once again and demand that something be done and be done now.
So, if you still care about GLSM but think that nothing is going to be done about the pollution so why try, then you need to re-think it. We can do something about it! Our country holds sacred three American principles on freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and the power of the vote. Though several local and state officials continue to interfere with these rights, Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys continues to fight for everyone. All we want is clean water. So, why are local and state governments and elected officials so threatened by this, shouldn't everyone be for clean water?!
We are lobbying for REAL ACTION by Ohio elected officials and governmental agencies. We want the state or federal government to cleanup Grand Lake St. Marys and Ohio's other waterways. With the world's drinking water supply disappearing at alarming rates. We should be protecting every inch of our streams and lakes in Ohio.
"What are elected officials thinking?"
These elected officials are fully aware that the lake is unhealthy for users and for drinking water; people have or are losing jobs; businesses are still struggling or having to shut down; property values of homes in the lake area are losing 30-50% of their value and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have refused mortgage lending based on GLSM being too polluted; $60-80million/yr. lost to the local economies in tourism dollars; higher water prices because of the added expense of attempting to filter out the toxins in the lake primarily caused by nutrient run-off; loss tax revenue due to less people visiting the area, the lower sale prices for homes, and less businesses contributing sales tax; but these elected officials still stand firm to protect the farmers dumping manure in the GLSM watershed.
According to the U.S. Census Data, agriculture is 1% of the economic sector in Mercer Co. Why are our local and elected officials willing to sacrifice the losses mentioned above by citizens in the area for a hand full of livestock producers who are addicted to their form of government welfare. These livestock producers don't want to change their farming practices for the good of everyone in the watershed!
In fact, the State of Ohio is paying these farmers to pollute. What do I mean by this? The State allows farmers to dump raw and untreated manure into the lake rather than having to pay to have it hauled out. Disposal of waste is paid by everyone whether it is industrial waste or personal garbage. It is a legitimate business expense. So, why do livestock manufacturing facilities get a free ride?
Currently, the State of Ohio is paying local livestock producers to pollute our waterways by shifting this expense to the general public. I was first amused by this line the first time I heard it. "Farmers are paid to pollute." I quickly realized the very sad truth about this statement. Livestock producers are allowed to freely spread their animals' by-products, namely manure, growth hormones and antibiotics, without having to pay for the expense of proper disposal. Proper disposal would prevent these nutrients from entering and polluting Grand Lake St. Marys.
So, how is John/Jane Doe subsidizing it? As loss tourism dollars impact our local governments and their services, ex. higher water prices, and lower tax revenues due to property values dropping 30-50%. We are faced with higher taxes shouldered by the other 99% of the economic sector. YES!! According to the latest US Census Data, agribusiness represents only 1% of the economic sector in Mercer County.
The actions of our state and local officials to protect this 1% at the expense of the other 99% is deplorable. As the communities around Grand Lake St. Marys continue to decline economically because of the unstifled pollution, I wondered, "what are elected officials thinking? This is not sustainable, sorry Rep. Buchy, I know you don't like that word. But let's look at what is meant by the word - "sustainable". According to the United States Government the definition is the following:
Sustainability is based on a simple principle: Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.
Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials, and resources to protect human health and our environment.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This sounds pretty reasonable! So, why does the state and local elected officials and governments think sustainable clean water cannot be reached since livestock producers won't pay for the disposal of their facilities' waste in a way that makes the watershed sustainable for everyone. It's perplexing, especially since agribusiness has drawn down a quarter of a BILLION dollars in the last twenty years. Interesting isn't it? In the last twenty years, we have seen the livestock population increase by approximately 40% and this doesn't include chickens. So, with that amount of government subsidy for the livestock producers, it seems they are better positioned to pay for hauling out their manure than the rest of us.
So, I think it a good idea for the other 99% of the economic sector and the general public, if all garbage disposal is free. The cost to local government for the free collection of all waste should be recovered by a livestock and chicken per head tax. Also, funds from this tax could pay for the additional filtration system being used by the City of Celina in an attempt to provide clean drinking water for the City of Celina. This approach would allow for water prices to fall back to normal for the general public. Now that would begin leveling the playing field for the non-livestock producers in the area. Local elected officials should not discriminate on who receives free services.
People in the area must not give up hope that something will be done about the polluting of GLSM. The struggle with the State of Ohio and livestock producers in the watershed has been going on for two decades. Which, oh by the way, is why it has taken nearly two decades for the lake to get this polluted.
It's time for people to get serious about cleaning up the lake and protecting the assets of our community which are slowly being destroyed by nutrient run-off and its complications.
In a recent meeting with Sen. Keith Faber, he threatened that "this lake doesn't have to remain a recreational lake." Which was followed by this following simple question put to Sen. Faber, "Is there any benefit to the State of Ohio in NOT cleaning up this lake?" Needless to say, Sen. Faber was outraged by this comment. But really folks, think about it, he knows the economic impact the pollution is costing the communities around GLSM has experienced, so why does he continue to protect the livestock producers.
The reality is that the state and local elected officials and administrators are all in lock-step together to protect these livestock producers at ALL costs which are our health, our investments, our jobs, our businesses and our services.
As these leaders, protect their pockets, they expect the rest of us to pay the price. As one member stated to Rep. Buchy at our first public meeting, "The State should cleanup this lake before someone gets sick and dies", of which Rep. Buchy responded, "people die everyday". This attitude is systemic throughout local and state government and it will never change unless the general public finds the energy to step up once again and demand that something be done and be done now.
So, if you still care about GLSM but think that nothing is going to be done about the pollution so why try, then you need to re-think it. We can do something about it! Our country holds sacred three American principles on freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and the power of the vote. Though several local and state officials continue to interfere with these rights, Guardians of Grand Lake St. Marys continues to fight for everyone. All we want is clean water. So, why are local and state governments and elected officials so threatened by this, shouldn't everyone be for clean water?!
We are lobbying for REAL ACTION by Ohio elected officials and governmental agencies. We want the state or federal government to cleanup Grand Lake St. Marys and Ohio's other waterways. With the world's drinking water supply disappearing at alarming rates. We should be protecting every inch of our streams and lakes in Ohio.
"What are elected officials thinking?"