CLARKSBURG -- Water Board members tentatively agreed Tuesday to a proposal from the County Commission to operate the Buffalo Lake property for one year, contingent on an agreement between the county and the city's Park Board.
That agreement is expected to be ratified at the commission's next meeting slated for Monday, according to Commission President Beth Taylor.
Taylor and three members of the park board attended Tuesday's Water Board meeting.
"We would like to get this worked out as soon as possible, because it would be a shame to lose the wonderful recreation opportunities available this year," Taylor said after the meeting.
The commission's proposal to operate the lake's recreational facilities came after water board members denied a request from the park board for $10,000 to help offset maintenance costs. The park board had operated Buffalo Lake for more than 20 years.
The commission's proposal included a provision that all equipment used by the park board to run the area be left in place. Park Board member John Brunetti said the board would agree to loan the equipment to the commission for one year. However, if the county chose to lease the lake for additional years, other arrangements would need to be made for the equipment, he said.
Water board members said the tentative agreement was a good thing for not only the board but the county and the citizens as well.
"It would be a shame to waste a summer," board member Russell Lopez said. "Anything we're going to do with the property can't be done this year."
Board members have discussed several options for the property, including selling it and gift-deeding it to the state.
In other business, board members:
* approved a resolution honoring the late Dominick Policano, who served on the board twice and was project coordinator during construction of the new water treatment plant.
* reconsidered a motion to purchase a new vehicle. After a lengthy discussion, board members decided to take no action, in effect leaving in place the original motion to purchase a vehicle.
Regional writer James Fisher can be reached at 626-1446 or by e-mail at jfisher@exponent-telegram.com