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Coordinator: Heather Buck
220 West Livingston Street Suite 1
Celina, Ohio 45822
Phone 419-586-2548 Fax 419-586-9599
e-mail heather.buck@mercercountyohio.org
The newest program for the Grand Lake St Marys
Watershed has just been approved. It is the Water
Pollution Control Loan Fund – Linked Deposit
program and comes through an agreement between
the Soil & Water Conservation office and the
Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial
Assistance (OEPA-DEFA). This program is offered
to residents within the watershed boundaries in
both Mercer and Auglaize counties.
The linked deposit program was designed to provide
low-interest loans to those cooperators wishing
to participate in agricultural best management
practices (BMP’s). Such BMPs include the
purchase of conservation farming equipment (strip
till equipment, no-till drills, yield monitors,
etc.) or improvements that would enhance water
quality (livestock exclusion fencing, windbreaks,
filter strips, etc.) These low interest loans
will make these practices more cost-effective
for the cooperators and will benefit the entire
watershed by decreasing the amount of non-point
source pollution.
To apply, interested participants will need to
have a soil and water conservation plan (SWCP)
in place or developed with the NRCS District Conservationist.
Once the plan is approved, a certificate of eligibility
will be issued listing the eligible items for
the loan. The cooperator takes the certificate
to a participating bank where the application
will be reviewed according to the bank’s
lending criteria.
Other considerations for the linked
deposit program:
The entire SWCP does not have to be implemented
at one time.
If a cooperator owns land both in and out of the
watershed, equipment may be used on both pieces
of land.
Linked deposit loans cannot refinance equipment
that was previously financed through another loan
program or bank. Cooperators would not need to
own the land on which they wish to implement the
practices.
There are several items and practices already
approved for this program. Other conservation
farming practices and equipment will be considered
and finally approved by the OEPA – DEFA. |
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Jeff Grey, Sheriff
125 West Livingston Street Celina, Ohio 45822
419-586-7724 e-mail - sheriff@mercercountyohio.org
With the end of Summer nearing and the onset of
cooler Fall weather approaching, the Mercer County
Sheriff’s Office is aware that many will
close up the weekend houses and cottages until
warm weather returns. In Franklin Township many
lakeside homes sit vacant all winter long. Our
goal is to make sure every precaution is taken
to prevent any sort of crime to these vacant residences.
We would like to make a few suggestions in securing
your residence. There are no full proof methods
of stopping crime, but, by making your residence
less attractive to a burglar or thief may save
you time, money and a lot of grief.
It is always helpful to talk to a neighbor
or someone in the neighborhood who will be staying
year round. Ask them if they can keep an eye on
your residence and report any suspicious activity.
This could be a vehicle parked close by that they
do not recognize or a person lurking around the
neighborhood whom they have not seen before. The
Sheriff’s Office will follow up on all calls
of suspicious activity received.
Before leaving,
make sure all windows and doors are secure. Draw
curtains or blinds, if a burglar cannot see inside
he or she will not be as tempted or be able to
see something they want. Secure the garage or
shed. If you are leaving any valuables such as
a T.V., VCR or Stereo, copy the serial number,
make and model number. Keep these in a safe place.
You could also engrave your valuables with a made
up number that only you have a record of. This
will help to identify the item as yours if it
is recovered. Keep a list of all valuables that
are being kept there so you will know if something
comes up missing.
Also, if you are storing any water craft at your
summer home, make sure you keep the title and
registration in a safe place and keep a list of
any numbers on the craft. The VIN number, OH number,
or license plate number on a trailer should all
be easily accessible.
A lot of these residences do not have phone listings
or the phone is disconnected during the Winter
months, so the Sheriff’s Office has no way
to know who owns the property in case of an emergency.
We have the capability to keep a record of this
information on our computer system so you can
be notified immediately if a break in should occur.
Please call us at 419-586-7724 if you would like
us to store this information.
We will do our best to keep your house or cottage
safe during the off season by having cruisers
in the area as much as possible and keeping an
eye on properties we know are vacant. Have a safe
year and we will see you next Summer.
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