Leaport County MS4 board approves $18,108 for stormwater projects; director details demonstrations, partnerships and budget

The Leaport County MS4 Storm Water Board on June 25 approved a motion to expend up to $18,108 from the storm water operating fund to support education, outreach and post-construction demonstration projects.

The boards director framed the request by noting a previous March 25 approval of $28,783 and a remaining balance that, together with the new request, would leave the program within its self-imposed $65,000 annual cap. The director said the operating fund balance is strong, reporting $311,788 available in the storm water operating account and approximately $119,000 in second-quarter review fees that helped grow the fund.

The director described several projects that the board would use as public demonstrations if the expenditure is approved. At the fairgrounds, a recently installed detention facility paired with new millings performed as designed in a large rain event; a fairgrounds representative said, "Wow, this turned out better than I thought it was going to," citing satisfaction with the engineering and cleanup. The director also proposed establishing a native-plant, bio-infiltration area along the countys water-wise path, and said Councilman Kesler volunteered about a half-mile of Route 2 frontage for native plantings as a visible county example.

Other demonstration opportunities discussed included a one-acre wetland on a Presbyterian Church site in the Travis Ditch watershed and a pilot invasive-species restoration on Trail Creek in Padawatami Park in partnership with the International Friendship Botanic Gardens; the director said partnership funds from Hitachi have supported related restoration work.

The director previewed the 2027 budget and explained salary allocations: $40,000 of MS4 salary, $18,000 for related SWCD work and $33,618 paid from the storm water operating fund (a combined $91,618); staff member Chris was listed as funded $15,000 from the general fund for fiduciary work. The director said outside legal costs totaling about $6,632 (largely for attorney Jim Meyer) had been charged to the non-salary general fund, leaving approximately $15,588 in that account.

Procedural items: the board approved the March 25, 2026 meeting minutes and the financial report by voice vote. After discussion the motion to approve the $18,108 expenditure was moved, seconded and announced as carried by voice vote.

The director closed by summarizing outreach work: pollinator kits prepared with Oak Valley Nursery sold out quickly; the program planted 100 oak trees with Creger Middle School; and staffers will present at a statewide webinar on July 1. The director characterized the MS4 program as moving from a previous deficient status to a largely self-sustaining, in-house operation supported by grants and partnerships.

The board had no public comments listed, approved the directors report, set the next meeting for Sept. 24 at 3 p.m., and adjourned.