MWCD Agrees to Test Skiing Event at Charles Mill Lake

An isolated portion of Charles Mill Lake near Mansfield may be the site of two water ski tournaments next summer.

Members of the MWCD Board of Directors agreed during a meeting today (Dec. 15) to issue a marine event permit for the tournaments sponsored by the International Novice Tour (INT) during separate weekends in July and August 2007. The tournaments, which feature varying levels of talent in numerous water sport skills for youth and adults, will be held in the Mud Lake area in the northeast section of the lake.

The proposal for the events was developed by the staff of Charles Mill Marina along with Tony and Mari Colace of Mansfield, who are directors of Out of the Boat Watersports, a family-oriented organization dedicated to teaching water sport skills. The Colaces told Board members that the conditions in the Mud Lake area of the lake are ideal for the skiing tournaments and that only a very small portion of the lake will be utilized.

The course to be used is about 76 feet wide by 875 feet long, with an overall ski area measuring about 275 feet wide and 1,000 feet long necessary to encompass the staging, turnaround and safety zone areas. The ski area would be positioned along the west side of the Mud Lake area, which would not be closed during the tournament weekends, although it would be designated as “No Wake.”

Conditions in the tournament area also are attractive for spectators to watch the action from the shore or in boats in designated areas on the water, the Colaces said.

Because the events will require the use of two boats with a greater horsepower rating than the 10-horsepower limit permitted on the lake, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Watercraft also had to review the proposal. The Division of Watercraft, which has the sole authority over horsepower ratings on the state’s water surfaces (including the MWCD lakes), agreed to issue an over-horsepower permit for the events contingent on MWCD’s issuance of a marine event permit.

Mark Jukich, MWCD manager of operations, said the MWCD staff has reviewed the proposal along with the Division of Watercraft, and will monitor the events closely. The Colaces said that work on a proposal for the events has taken more than a year and they are committed to the safety of all of the participants and other lake users and visitors.

Final details about the events, including the tournament dates and schedules, will be announced in upcoming months.

In other business, the MWCD Board of Directors:

• Approved a balanced budget for 2007 for the conservancy district. Estimated revenue and expenses are set at $12.368 million.
• Agreed to updates to the MWCD policies for its employees that will comply with the new Smoke Free Workplace law that recently went into effect and makes direct deposit of pay for all MWCD staff members mandatory. Several employees also were recognized for their years of service to the MWCD as follows: Daniel Atterholt, Charles Mill Lake Park, and Robert Alan Edwards, engineering group, each five years; Peggy May, natural resources group, and Susan Williams, Pleasant Hill Lake Park, each 10 years; Scott Barnhart, parks administrator, 15 years; Donnie Borland, natural resources group, and Jayne Ann Fankhauser, finance group, each 20 years; Mark Lashley, Seneca Lake Park, 25 years; and Mark Swiger, natural resources administrator, 30 years.
• Approved trash removal contracts for Economy Sanitation of Hopedale for work at Atwood Park, Atwood launch ramp, Leesville Southfork campground, Tappan Park and Tappan launch ramp, and for Allied Waste of Mansfield for services at Charles Mill and Pleasant Hill parks, and the campgrounds at North Branch Kokosing.
• Approved planning work not to exceed $35,000 for a state-mandated chlorination and dechlorination water facility to service the Seneca Bass Lane Cottage Area, Seneca Marina and Seneca Lake Marina Point campground by W.E. Quicksall & Associates Inc. of New Philadelphia A proposal by Quicksall to continue to provide professional engineering services for the conservancy district in 2007, with no increase in rates, also was approved.
• Approved rates for camping and associated services in the MWCD campgrounds for 2007. Rates have been increased about 5 percent at all campground facilities. Jukich said the combination of increasing costs of utilities and the recent passage of the mandatory minimum-wage increase are the primary factors behind the need to increase rates.

PRESS RELEASE
December 15, 2006

CONTACT:
Darrin Lautenschleger
Public Information Officer
Toll-Free:(877) 363-8500

E-mail: darrin@mwcdlakes.com