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Dam Management District Overview. Creation of a Dam Management District. Why Do We Need A Dam Management District? What is a Dam Management District? Financial Impact Scenarios. Agenda. Why Do We Need A Dam Management District. Pascoag Reservoir / Echo Lake – A Natural Resource.
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Creation of a Dam Management District • Why Do We Need A Dam Management District? • What is a Dam Management District? • Financial Impact Scenarios Agenda
Why Do We Need A Dam Management District Pascoag Reservoir / Echo Lake – A Natural Resource • Quality of Life / Life Style • Swimming Boating Fishing Skiing • Benefits to the community • Campground serving hundreds of campers • Boat Marina for dozens of boat owners • Episcopal Conference Center & Mother of Hope youth programs. • Annual Fishing derbies • Winter Ice fishing • Added property valuations of approximately $25,000,000 • (strictly due to waterfront premium)
Why Do We Need A Dam Management District • Preservation of Dam • Control • Fairness • Future • Opportunity for Ownership
Why Do We Need A Dam Management District • RI DEM RI General Law Chapter 46-19, “Inspection of Dams and Reservoirs”, • Originally passed in 1896. • Amended in May 2006 giving DEM more enforcement powers • The RI DEM, promulgated a new regulation entitled: “Rules and Regulations for Dam Safety” • Effective on December 20, 2007
Dam ratings • “Hazard classification” • Low - Significant - High • Rating for a dam that relates to the probable consequences of failure or mis-operation of the dam. The determination is made by the DEM based on an assessment of: • loss of human life • damages to properties or structures • loss of use as a drinking water supply • This rating has no relationship to the current condition of the dam. A higher hazard dam does not imply that it is more likely to fail than a lower hazard dam.
What Is A Dam Management District CHAPTER 45-62 - Dam Management Districts (Enabling Legislation) • Authorize cities and towns of the state to adopt ordinances creating dam management districts • New amendments will allow the towns of Burrillville and Glocester to exempt from taxation certain property owned by a dam management district and would provide for the collection of dam management district fees in those towns.
Dam Management District Ordinance Dam Management District Ordinance • As developed by Burrillville and Glocester Town Councils • Purpose • To prevent threats caused by the failure or breach of the Dam • To protect & maintain the value of the Dam • Apportioning fairly among all owners
Dam Management District Ordinance • Powers and Duties of the DMD: • Responsible for all aspect of inspection & maintenance • Manage funds for operations • Manage grants and loans • Fix rates and collect fees
Major Questions • Who will be in the DMD? • Who will be able to vote? • Board of Directors & Officers? • How will by-laws be established? • How will operating budget be established? • How will budget be apportioned?
1. Who will be in the DMD? • All properties directly abutting the lake or having direct access to the lake • Any properties having deeded access to the lake
2. Who will be able to vote? • Eligible Voter: The owner of any property located in the DMD. • Multiple/Joint Owners: designate one representative to vote • Multiple Properties: One vote
3. Board of Directors & Officers • Board of Directors (BOD) • Seven individuals • Must be Eligible Voter of the District. • Five members from Burrillville • Two members from Glocester. • Total Properties = 323 • Burrillville = 248 (77%) • Glocester = 75 (23%) • Initial Board • Appointed by the respective Town Councils • Shall serve until the first Annual Budget Meeting. • Thereafter, the BOD shall be elected by members of the DMD
3. Board of Directors & Officers? • Board of Directors Structure • The BOD shall elect three of its members as: • President • Vice President • Secretary • Officers of the Management District shall be appointed by majority vote of the BOD • Collector • Assessor • Treasurer • And any other deemed necessary
4. How will by-laws be established? The Board of Directors • Responsible to develop the by-laws • Presented to the members for approval • Six (6) months
5. How will budget be established? Annual Budget Meetings • Initial budget meeting will be held within six months after the approval of the by-laws. • Board shall prepare the budget each year. • Approval by a majority of the votes cast by the eligible voters.
6. How will the budget be apportioned? • The Ordinance allows the apportioning of the budget in the following ways: • May be based on a flat rate established by the Board to be applied uniformly on property located within the DMD. (Fixed fee for everyone) • May be based on a rate to be established by the Board to be applied against assessed values of property in the DMD. (Variable fee) • Or may be a combination of a flat rate and assessed value rate. • The actual method used will be established in the by-laws.
Financial Issues Click here to view $ impacts:
Q & A Documents Are on line at: PUDA2008.org