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The vote was unanimous by the council members to put the hatchery back in the budget BUT it is for 1 year. Next year we must do it again.
Regarding the expired sailboat permits. I bet that if some digital pictures were taken of all the expired permits along with their registration numbers some folks might be getting a notice from OKC police. Watcha think????:D
Mayor Cornett made a statement that it is time for the fishermen to take their cut and 2 councilmen talked him down and supposedly "got in his face"
I would suggest that we start a push or drive to suggest the bikers and joggers pay a proportionate share tp cover costs of services. I would also suggest that we see if the money could be directed into a special fund for lake improvements whick Lazylakedog suggested. We have a year to plant the seed and fertilize it.
Gotta run to a victory lunch at Toby Keith's.:D
That's good news. Too bad I already added my 2010 OKC boating and fishing permit money to my ODWC Habitat Donor Program donation. I renew in April each year, maybe next year things will be where I'm comfortable contributing again.
Good job everybody.
I went to the victory lunch at Toby Keith's with Bob Martin, Rick Godfrey,chairman of the OKC Game and Fish Commission, Gene Gilliland,Barry Bolton, John Robbins,Friends of Lake Hefner chairman,I think. Rick indicated that the council members were bombarded by emails and phone calls regarding the saving of the fish hatchery. Rick pointed at myself and John and said both of use were responsible with making it happen. I said hmmmmm, but when I asked Rick what he wanted to be put on Crappie.com John Robbins looked at me and ask who was I? When I told him "Cricket George" he yelled, "SO YOU ARE CRICKET GEORGE, I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING YOU ON CDC" I thought " OOOOH Crap now I have gone and done it" I guess I impressed him. I am just being myself and following my passions, that's all. Helping people along the road of life:)
Folks I cannot take the credit for saving the hatchery because I am just one person supplying data. You all together made this victory possible with your emails and calls. You all should pat yourself on the back. Please remember that we are safe for 1 year. Next year we may have this battle again. I know that some things will be brewing during this next 12 months regarding the future of the hatchery. I will keep you posted as your voice may be needed again regarding the hatchery. Several Council members said that they had received more correspondence on the hatchery issue than ANY other issue on the OKC budget. Your thoughts and opinions were heard loud and clear by the council lets not let them forget that. ODWC thanks you, OKC Game and Fish Commission thanks you, Bob Martin thanks you, and I thank you. May God bless you all for your help.
CG
Perhaps all the people who bombarded their councilmen with their requests should now take a moment to send a thank you. I bet they get a of ton of requests but few thank you's. Let them know you appreciate their vote, I bet they won't forget it in 12 months. Now is the time to plant the seed.
Yes, if they raise our permit cost, then it would be a good thing if it was earmarked for fishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by cricket george
But I doubt we have the power to get that done.
Yes, there is a suggestion to raise the boating permits to possibly $30.00.
Meatdragger - You made an excellant suggestion to send thank you's. One of the councilmen told me this morning that he wants to work to get some additional improvements for the lakes.
I am sorry that I do not know anything further as to what came out of the council meeting, I am dealing with an amount of damage to our propoerty along Deep Fork River that is beyond comprehension and am out of any loop for some time. I must pray that Gov gets formal notice that Okla County is approved for FEMA assistance.
This sure has been the year for wild unusual weather events, going back to the blizzard on Christmas eve, the super cell storms that were moving 50 mph and dropping tornadoes, the crazy hail storm that had people shoveling hail, looked like a snow storm, and was producing a ground fog, and now a 500 yr flooding rain.
If it weren't for Oklahoma weather, this place could get boring.
But I hate to think what's gonna happen to our homeowners insurance rates, everybody in my part of town is getting a new roof.
On the city, NewsOK reports that councilman Pete White wants to raise half the cost of operating the hatchery with increase in fishing and boating permits. He says they need to raise them an amount to generate $150,000. Again, I don't mind an increase IF ........its earmarked for fishing.
From the numbers CG posted earlier, I can't even begin to think that they need the increase in permits to pay for the hatchery... it seems like they are trying to find a way to fill a budget gap somewhere else and are using this as a way to pay for some other program or overage. If OKC is anything like Tulsa, then that extra money will disappear into the void.
I am happy to hear that your efforts there saved the program it is nice to know that being vocal still gets things done locally. Kudos to all of your efforts there in OKC.
so true dn.....okc has a major thing for thier general fund...once they get that money in there they can spend it anyway they want to......I can promise you that our permit money does not go to improve our okc fishing......just last year we passed an extra fee on our water bill to pay for emsa service.....the extra money from that was supposed to go back into our public safety...but the first chance they got....they went and spent 100,000 of it to pay someone to research bus routes.......????? when was the last time a Mastrans bus showed up to help your sick mom or put out a house fire?.....it is true that the council voted to keep the hatchery....but did they really do us any favors????.....after all, we are the ones who pay for it!