The Springfield Township Board of Trustees was not required to make a new appointment to the Waumegah Lake Improvement Board, but on Feb. 10 they voted to replace long-time township representative Lou Kirby with local resident Mike Trout.
Because Waumegah Lake overlaps the Springfield-Independence border, the new state law adding a second municipality representative does not apply. Other problems concerning that lake board motivated a debate, however.
Township officials were already working on a new set of guidelines and expectations for improvement board meetings and wrote specifications for weed harvesting on the lake.
‘I really do respect Lou and what he has done for the lake. He has a personality that could be seen differently by different folks,? Trout said to the board of trustees. ‘I do believe that more consensus building and compromise has to be looked at in terms of the issues that are still out there. Making a change could help that.?
A motion from Walls to retain Kirby failed on a 4-3 vote. A motion to approve Trout passed unanimously.
‘Despite my previous motion, I think [Trout] is an excellent choice,? said Walls.
Kirby later said he was out of state on Feb. 10 and had no idea the lake board issue would be discussed. He was not surprised, however, and said the move was orchestrated by those opposed to an ongoing effort to restore the level of Waumegah Lake to 1,049.9 feet as contained in a 1997 court order.
‘I’m disappointed and I’m disgusted,? he said. ‘There are a couple people on the township board opposed to the augmentation well. That’s the issue behind the issue.?
In response to Dubris? accusations, Kirby said the lake board has a separate financial liaison who has worked closely with the local treasurer’s office.
‘I don’t think she got the cooperation she needed [from the treasurer’s office],? Kirby said.
Kirby also claimed to fulfill the role of a township representative looking out for more than only lakefront residents.
‘I was there to represent the majority of the people, not just one or two township officials,? he said.
Even with the replacement, Walls issued a caution to the board.
‘There are five members on that lake board,? Walls said, with only one appointed by Springfield Township. ‘It took three of the five to approve this mess. We only get one appointment. Not everything that is a problem with Waumegah Lake will be solved by changing one person.?
Trustee David Hopper agreed, but still supported the replacement.
‘There’s been such a track record of mismanagement,? Hopper said. ‘Maybe it’s a good start.?